HARDEEVILLE, S.C. (WSAV) – Election day is Nov. 3. Gavin Newsom, one of the potential Democratic Presidential candidates in 2028 is working this year to swing votes in the Lowcountry to get voters out to “take back” the Palmetto State.

“Because yes, we can flip SC blue, we can flip Jasper County blue.” That was the overarching message from Jasper County election leaders about the event inside St. Stephens AME Church in Hardeeville where hundreds of people packed the room to hear from Newsom.

“We saw the president of the United States try to light democracy on fire, try to destroy our democracy,” said Newsom. “Here he is trying to rig the election before one vote is cast. The game has changed. That means we need to change.”

The California Governor had a strong message to Democrats in the room. He said voting this year is more important than ever.

“We’re consumed by the ‘savior’,” explained Newsom. “The perfect person that’s going to come along on a white horse and save the day. And these guys are ruthless, focusing on judges and city council races and school board races. And they’ve earned their majorities in a lot of these states because they’re out there grinding, and we’re out there watching cable TV waiting for the 2028 presidential calendar. And so I’m trying to just reorient this into a different framework.”

Newsom crisscrossed South Carolina Thursday with the message of fighting back against what he calls a “failing Republican Party platform and White House.”

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Newsom’s focus at the Hardeeville event was on the diversity of the party and the need to battle Republicans at the polls and through legislation, not through social media and political ads.

“Don’t you know what Trump is doing to the post office? What? How is this? Why? Why isn’t everything just stopped?” said the Governor. “And that’s the only thing we’re talking about in this country. It’s the code red; it’s a five-alarm fire. And again, that’s what I don’t understand. These Republicans, in some respects, say I’m a little more forgiving than Trump. I’m like, ‘What the hell is going on with the Republican Party and Speaker Johnson?’ Every damn member of the cabinet, they’re all complicit in this. It’s extraordinary recklessness.”

South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster said he didn’t want the Palmetto State to fall into “California policies.” Newsom said, ‘Why not?’

“It’s shocking that Trump is still at 33%. It’s shocking that a Republican governor can countenance the policies of this administration,” said Newsom. “It’s shocking to me. You can be elected Governor and not support the people that need it most in your state by providing basic things like Medicaid. So we just have a fundamentally different worldview. “

While Newsom has made no secret of his thoughts on the 2028 Presidential election, he would not officially commit to a candidacy at Thursday’s event.

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