I'd support him!

Smart, tough, no nonsense. I would love to see him run.

The more they attack him, the stronger he becomes.

I love the way Newsom is trolling The Goon (my friend's name for him), but I can see Kelly having more national appeal.

I followed his brother's social media when he was in space for that extended period of time, so I felt like I knew more about him. It's only been of late that I've started to really pay attention to Mark Kelly, and I really like what I see.

We are going to need a strong, commanding candidate to be taken seriously. As a woman, that pisses me off because America will not see that many women are indeed themselves strong and commanding. But I am a realist. This next election cycle, we need someone who can kick some Trump ass, and I think Kelly has the potential to do that. He can definitely stand toe-to-toe with the bullying.

I too would love to see a woman. I figure I probably never will but we have at least gotten to the point our party seems to respect us so it may be just a matter of time. (A GO to my granddaughters) I am very positive about the two Kellys as well and also followed them all around.

It is early still but yes, they make me feel confident they are not going to eff it all up.

But he's male, white, ex-military, an astronaut and not from California (which has been turned into an instant disqualifier by the right wing). Qualifications look great.

And he is not arrogant at all.

Kelly looks like a goblin next to Newsom.

And I couldn’t care less what the right wing thinks about CA, nor should anyone else. If we’re picking the 2028 nominee based on who we think is the least offensive to right wingers then we’ve already lost.

I like how Newsom appears to be the most courageous potential male candidate out there.

In a perfect world, someone being from a certain state shouldn't matter, but unfortunately for too many, it does. Especially when the narrative on social media is that Newsom "has destroyed" California.

And we may have already lost when I read some of the nominees people on DU like strongly.

Newsom destroyed California

Look what News*um has done to California

Newsom has caused people to leave CA in droves

Etc etc etc.

I'd be happy with Kelly on the ticket. Whoever it is, has to be male and we need to win.

We have the best weather, healthcare, colleges and recreation/entertainment. It is beautiful here. That’s why our property values are so high. Everyone wants to live here. And because demand has driven up the price of housing, some people have been forced to leave to go where they can afford a house. It is as simple as that. We are the victims of our own success.

Please don't repeat right wing talking points here.

It's what I hear when I'm fighting for our cause on Twitter and Reddit etc

I'm from CA. You don't have to sell me on it. If you want to bury your head in the sand, go for it. I'll keep posting whatever I want so kindly.....

We are well aware what the RW assholes on social media are saying about Newsom. We are not "burying our head in the sand." Spare us the insults.

We come here so we can see threads not cluttered with that garbage. It is presumably why you came here too. So kindly...

Or one that right wingers, the right wing media and right leaning independents, can stomach. That's not going to happen, in this world or the next. I think we're all free to vote for whoever we want to in the primaries and I would advise folks to ignore the narratives created by the media and other right wingers, and just vote for who they think would do the best job and let the chips fall where they may. That's the only way I could live with myself, tbh. There's no scenario where I would allow what the RW media or RW leaders to influence who I vote for in the primaries, or define that candidate for me.

But some candidates are much easier to demonize, "disqualify" than others.

For example a certain lady from NY soo many people here like would get destroyed.

People need to be wiser about the candidates they choose as well. If you vote for a Jill Stein, or Andrew Yang, or Marianne Williamson, you deserve to lose.

She was literally the most qualified candidate we ever ran.

Anyone who runs will be viciously vilified.

Jill Stein, or Andrew Yang, or Marianne Williamson are not in her league. They are not even marginally qualified. Nobody here is pushing for them.

And don't worry, the "certain lady from NY" is not running. You are not the only one who thinks it must be a male at the top of the ticket this time.

Who, specifically, do you think should be at the top of the ticket?

wasn't Hillary Clinton.

I was talking about Hillary and you just kept going on and on about her.

But will spout right wing talking points to bash Newsom.

I "will do anything". Yeah, "anything".

jfc Go have a drink, or take a xanax before you burst into tears, so much drama ffs

All while insulting DUers and Dems. And going overboard with emojis. I'm not the one who needs Xanax.

"Inexplicably".

"You will do anything"

So emotional and hyperbolic it's both sad and hilarious.

"Going overboard with emojis"

You weren't shy about expressing your opinion about other people's suggestions.

Didn't want to block you, but I will now.

There's something seriously wrong with you.

Bye

You do realize you can just not respond to my posts, right?

I'm not one who has something "seriously wrong" with them.

He doesn't believe in equal rights for us, and has acted accordingly.

(Those are statements of fact, and thus allowed here.)

Also, who knows how Kimberly Gargoyle would insert herself into opposition strategy. Seems like that could be a messy distraction from the get-go.

Gavin Newsom is a strong LGBTQ+ ally.

1. Marriage Equality - As mayor of San Francisco in 2004, he defied state law by issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples, an act that reinvigorated the national marriage equality movement.

2. Sanctuary State - He signed legislation in 2022 that declared California a sanctuary state for transgender youth seeking gender-affirming care, protecting them from out-of-state legal action.

3. Parental Notification Ban - In 2024, he signed a law that bars school districts from requiring staff to notify parents if their child changes their gender identity at school without the child's permission.

4. Appointments -  He appointed the first openly transgender judge in the U.S., Andi Mudryk, in 2022. 

I would want to see how Newsom polls with them, but I think many of them are financially conservative while supporting social rights.

Dems better get their sh*t together and start doing focus groups, town halls etc, to get a better pulse of the electorate.

Complacency, should never ever ever happen again.

I hope he does consider running.

For some reason I hadn't thought of him. I hope we have a lively primary season.

...see him knock the absolute fuck out of Kegsbreath...and Trump.

This is certainly only my opinion, and I mean no disrespect, but one of the things that drives me nuts is when someone does something that is correct (like Sen Kelly) or a celebrity who strongly denounces the current ship of fools, there are people who think that person is qualified to be president. Personally, I'm looking for someone who, as they say, has a body of work spanning many years that qualifies them for the office.

As for Sen. Kelly, I have no doubt that he is off the charts smart, but the world of the military is far different from the give and take sausage making of legislative politics.

I think he'd be too conciliatory, let bygones be bygones, return to the status quo.

I'd rather see Pritzker or Newsom. They would be punitive.

He has my enthusiastic support. The guy is an astronaut

has made it clear that is not his style.

They are willing to "go low". Mark Kelly doesn't like to go negative.

But I think almost any hetero white Male xtian that we run would win.

I know Pritzker isn't xtian and neither is Josh Shapiro but I think both could win.

It's quite a while until it's time to talk about potential 2028 candidates, I think. How many other "stars of the moment" will you think should run for President. Please wait a while. It's a long time until 2028.

It's exactly 148 weeks away.

If we aren't already planning and fundraising for 2028, we are behind.

Last edited Tue Jan 6, 2026, 07:02 PM - Edit history (1)

He might not win the nomination, but I agree that he would be an excellent VP choice for the eventual nominee.

If he were the nominee I would vote for him but he is not even in my top 5.

He is fine and all but absolutely a centrist Democrat and I just don't believe that is what the American people want in the next cycle.

Would be too much for his wife, let him stay in the senate where he can fight.

comments that would be made about her by trump and his vile followers. Cruelty knows no bounds with magats.

Trump and hegseth went so far as to mention the death penalty for what Kelly said. I can't imagine how that made her feel.

He may be super-qualified but man, don't people just want to retire and live happy carefree lives?

But if she is not comfortable with it, I have no doubt that he will not run.

Link to tweet

His character is impeachable. His wife would be a fine First Lady. We would have a much easier time winning Arizona. He is a very serious man. I really don't see how the repugs can pillory him.

Maybe that's what you meant to say?

In addition to Kelly and Newsom

They see him as a threat.

I always was, but I think now more than ever this is more about getting the Republican the hell out of there than anything else