Republicans suspect California Gov. Gavin Newsom will replace Biden in 2024 presidential election

Republicans are becoming increasingly suspicious that California Gov. Gavin Newsom is interested in mounting a presidential run in 2024, despite his pledged support for President Biden.

Speculation continues to rise as Newsom has begun to shift his policies more toward the center to appeal to the nation as opposed to the left leaning policies of the Golden State on the Pacific Coast, according to a recent report published by Just the News.

Earlier this month, Newsom vetoed legislation that would have compelled judges in child custody cases to balance whether a parent has affirmed their child’s chosen gender identity, a shift from earlier state policies, which prohibited teachers from revealing what their students’ gender choices at school.

“I guess Gavin Newsom is running for President after all," said Public Square Michael Seifert on social media. 

Multiple Twitter users have raised possibilities that the real purpose of the governor’s veto is to appeal to moderates in case he seeks the 2024 Democratic presidential nomination.

According to an Associated Press poll conducted last month, 77% of those interviewed said they felt Biden would be too old to run for a second term in the White House. 

Newsom's name has been considered as an alternative during media talk shows, but the California governor recently told NewsNation host Chris Cuomo he would support Biden for re-election. 

He also said he would support his state’s former U.S. Senator turned vice-president, Kamala Harris, saying she would be Biden’s natural successor should she choose to run.

“I have deep respect, reverence for Joe Biden as a person, his character, his decency and his capacity to do great things,” Newsom told Cuomo. “That’s why. I’m not worthy of that conversation. This guy deserves it, and we as members of the party deserve to have his back.”

A recent Axios report also said that Biden's re-election campaign is sending Newsom to the second Republican primary debate, an indication the Democrats want to amplify his credibility and national presence.

Newsom was also recently in New York City where he participated in “Climate Week.”

While in Manhattan, he discussed a lawsuit California brought against five large oil companies, suggesting the Golden State would hold them accountable for escalating climate change problems.

During an interview with John Solomon’s Just the News No Noise TV show, former Trump advisor Kash Patel said the media will most likely use the recent charges against Hunter Biden to pressure the president to pass the torch along to Newsom for the upcoming 2024 race.

“You're gonna see the heat coming from the mainstream media that Joe Biden should pardon his son to save his son Hunter from the quote unquote 'bogus criminal prosecution by a Trump appointed special counsel,'" Patel said.

"They're going to blame the Republicans and they're going to say, 'Joe is the savior and secured justice for his son when no one else would,''' he continued. "And now we thank him for service and anoint Gavin Newsom to be the next candidate for the Democratic Party."

Former California governor and actor Arnold Schwarzenegger said he is confident Newsom will run for president.

“I think it’s a no-brainer,” the former Terminator star told The Hollywood Reporter. “Every governor from a big state wants to take that shot.”

Newsom was unsuccessfully challenged in 2021 by state Republicans during his governorship in a recall election, an option available to California voters under their constitution.