South Carolina, Iowa, and New Hampshire are the key early voting states that Republicans and Democrats are eyeing ahead of the 2028 election.

California Governor Gavin Newsom hit the trail in South Carolina in a bid to position himself as the Democratic heir-apparent in 2028. Even though the primaries are still years away, Newsom is staking out his territory as a moderate contender.

Term-limited California Gov. Gavin Newsom tours South Carolina for meet and greets at cafes and churches, building relationships in a key early primary state amid 2028 speculation.

On Wednesday, protestors gathered outside of California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s event in Pickens County. The governor launched a two-day tour of South Carolina, calling on voters across rural areas — some tucked in GOP strongholds — to exercise their “moral authority” in standing up to President Donald Trump and Republicans in next year’s midterm elections.

But more than that, Newsom’s foray into the state, which for years has held one of the earliest voting contests on the Democratic presidential primary calendar, serves as a strong signal that the governor of the most populous state is eyeing a 2028 White House bid. Newsom spent Tuesday in small towns across northeastern South Carolina ...

Several possible 2028 presidential candidates on both sides of the aisle are visiting early primary states, signaling their intent to eventually run for the White House. While the next presidential