Staff Reports
Townhall this week dropped an undercover video that is impossible for Democrats to ignore. California Governor Gavin Newsom, while stumping in New Hampshire for congressional hopefuls, told a voter that the Democratic Socialists of America — yes, the DSA — “is…going to be dominant” and “that’s going to be a mainstream Democratic movement.” If you needed proof that Democrats are arguing among themselves about what the party will be, here it is on tape.
Undercover video: Newsom praises DSA energy
The clip was recorded at a mid‑October meet‑and‑greet where Newsom was campaigning for Stefany Shaheen. In the exchange he praised “the energy and the desire and demand for bold change, not incremental change,” and said the system is “broken” and must be “completely reimagined.” Those are not off‑hand remarks. They’re a signal — whether sincere or staged — that Newsom wants credit for owning the left flank of the party.
What he actually said — and why it stings
Newsom’s words were blunt: the DSA will be “dominant” and “mainstream.” That matters because the DSA’s platform pushes far beyond traditional Democratic positions on taxes, spending, and government reach. For a governor who depends on big donors and suburban votes to flirt openly with the socialist wing is either political genius or blatant desperation. Take your pick. Either way, it shows a party that no longer has a clear center.
Why this matters for 2028 and Democratic voters
This is a positioning moment for Newsom as much as it’s a confession. With former Vice President Kamala Harris leading early primary snapshots and millions of Democratic voters still undecided, every line matters. Is Newsom courting young activists and hoping turnout covers for lost moderate support? Or is he trying to rebrand himself as the candidate who can harness insurgent energy without swallowing every policy prescription tied to it? The tape doesn’t answer that, but it makes the bet public.
Big tent or full tilt left?
Contrast Newsom’s sound‑bite with Harris’s line about a “big tent” where “nobody should be kicked out,” and you see the debate inside the party: inclusion vs. transformation. Conservatives should not sleep on this. If one of the Democrats most talked about for 2028 is openly praising the DSA as the future of the party, voters ought to ask what that future looks like for taxes, borders, spending, and free markets. The video is short, but the implications are long — and not in a good way for anyone who likes lower taxes and more freedom.
