California Gov. Gavin Newsom embarked Tuesday on a two-day swing through rural South Carolina as the high-profile Democrat seeks to position himself as a leader for a party in rebuilding mode while simultaneously stoking fresh speculation about a potential 2028 presidential bid.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom is out of state, speaking to voters in churches and coffee shops in South Carolina in what many see as another step towards a presidential run, although he refused to comment directly on the 2028 race.