Gavin Newsom's memoir reveals he's following the same failed Democratic playbook that voters have already rejected
Source: Scaachi Koul. "Gavin Newsom does his best Biden impression in his new book. Uh-oh.." February 25, 2026. slate.com
The Gist
The author argues that Gavin Newsom's new book shows he's copying Joe Biden's political style and using the same old Democratic strategies that just lost to Trump. She thinks this proves he would be a bad presidential candidate because he's not offering the kind of real change that voters actually want.
Conclusion
Gavin Newsom's new memoir demonstrates he is following the same outdated political approach that has already failed for Democrats, making him an unsuitable presidential candidate for 2028
Premises
- Newsom's memoir follows the exact same format and messaging strategy as Joe Biden's political persona, including emphasizing personal struggles like dyslexia (paralleling Biden's stuttering)
- The book represents outdated pre-2020 political thinking that ignores major shifts in voter preferences after COVID, October 7th, and other recent events
- Newsom's close ties to billionaire oil interests (the Getty family) while claiming moral superiority over Trump's wealth represents the same elitist hypocrisy that turns off voters
- His progressive accomplishments mentioned in the book (gay marriage, anti-racism statements) are insufficient for left-leaning voters while still alienating conservatives
- The memoir's political memoir clichés and focus on personal narrative over substantive policy vision shows he's using an obsolete campaign playbook
- His recent policy reversals (walking back Israel criticism, approving new oil wells) demonstrate he's still operating as a conventional politician focused on winning rather than leading
Assumptions
- Voters have fundamentally rejected the Biden-style Democratic approach after recent electoral losses
- Publishing a memoir signals serious presidential ambitions
- Voters now prioritize authenticity and substantial change over polished political personas
- The Democratic Party needs a revolutionary approach rather than incremental centrism to win back voters
- Personal narrative-focused campaigns are less effective in the current political climate