California Governor Gavin Newsom was quick to throw his support behind former Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee for 2024 after President Joe Biden exited the race last July.

Newsom finds it puzzling why Harris mentioned in her book that he failed to return her call the day Biden stepped down.

According to Harris’ campaign memoir, 107 Days, Newsom had simply texted, “Hiking. Will call back.”

In a subsequent podcast, Newsom clarified that he was actually on a treadmill that day in July. An aide later explained to the New York Times that the governor went for a hike afterward.

Upon reading the book, Newsom texted Harris to question the inclusion of the story, pointing out his prompt endorsement, which was a significant political gesture, especially since he was seen as a potential 2024 candidate if the Democrats had opted to select a new nominee at their convention.

Her reply? 

‘On book tour. Get back to you later,’ the former Democratic nominee typed out. 

Newsom revealed the flippant response during a Fortnite Friday interview in October, saying that he ‘followed up with her in a little text.’

California Governor Gavin Newsom (left) was perplexed that former Vice President Kamala Harris (right) would write in her campaign memoir that he didn’t call her back the day President Joe Biden dropped out – since he publicly endorsed her campaign hours later

‘I said, “Why didn’t you mention in the book three hours later I publicly endorsed you for president and that was why you were calling?”‘ 

‘Anyways, that’s the relationship,’ he added with a laugh. 

The Times highlighted these comments on Harris’ political future on Tuesday, as Newsom appears to be gaining Democratic frontrunner status in a presidential election three years away. 

Newsom didn’t whack Harris over the head for her loss to President Donald Trump.

‘We got our a**es kicked, and it wasn’t just Kamala – she had, there was difficult circumstances for anybody,’ Newsom told the video game streamer.

But he’s also laid the groundwork more publicly for a 2028 bid, getting an assist from the voters of California, who overwhelmingly agreed to go along with his redistricting plan that should help the Democrats in House races next year. 

Newsom has also counter-punched Trump with his audacious social media posts. 

Harris has been more coy about future presidential ambitions.

Vice President Kamala Harris (left) and her running mate Minnesota Governor Tim Walz on the campaign trail in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in August 2024. Governor Gavin Newsom said, ‘We got our a**es kicked, and it wasn’t just Kamala’ 

California Governor Gavin Newsom has been more upfront with his 2028 presidential ambitions and scored a victory in November when California voters went along with his redistricting plan in an effort to help Democrats win back the House next year 

‘I understand the focus on ’28 and all that,’ she told the Times. ‘But there will be a marble bust of me in Congress. I am a historic figure like any vice president of the United States ever was.’

Harris made history by being the first female and first woman of color to ever be elected vice president. 

She did lay some groundwork with her party by calling dozens of Democratic winners in the off-year elections from both the progressive and moderate wings.

She telephoned New York City’s Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani and advised him on how to hire staff and serve as an executive, the Times said.

‘I do not think he’s a scary face for the Democratic Party,’ she told the paper. 

The Times reported that she also made congratulatory calls to Governors-elect Abigail Spanberger in Virginia and Mikie Sherill in New Jersey, both more politically moderate. 

She phoned more than 40 Democrats, the paper reported, including a new state senator in Mississippi, incoming city council members in South Carolina and a school board trustee in Republican-heavy Idaho. 

As for Newsom’s potential 2028 bid, she told the paper, ‘He has to make that decision if he wants to first.’ 

‘I think Gavin is very talented. I really do. And I think we have many talented people,’ Harris added.