California’s Exodus Continues as Harris and Newsom Eye 2028 Presidential Bid

Washington — Two California Democrats—Governor Gavin Newsom and former Vice President Kamala Harris—are poised to enter the presidential race by 2028.

Republican operatives are likely thinking: Bring it on.

Under Newsom, California’s image has grown less golden than in past decades. The state faces mounting economic challenges.

The IRS recently reported that California experiences the highest net loss of taxpayers, with one taxpayer leaving every minute and 44 seconds. Nearly 39,000 Californians relocated to Nevada last year alone.

Hope the Silver State newcomers do not bring their progressive politics with them—and good luck to them.

The entertainment industry has been gradually shifting away from Hollywood for some time, but the decline of Los Angeles as a film production hub accelerated following the 2023 Screen Actors Guild and Writers Guild of America strikes. On-location filming in Southern California dropped by more than 22% between January and March 2025, according to FilmLA.

California’s decline could benefit Nevada. Actor Mark Wahlberg and others are working to establish Las Vegas as an affordable alternative for the film industry—reimagined Hollywood 2.0. However, the Nevada Legislature has rejected rich transferable tax credits designed to lure major studios to southern Nevada.

Silicon Valley’s tech giants have also been moving en masse to Texas and other states due to lower taxes and fewer regulatory constraints. In 2021, Elon Musk relocated Tesla’s headquarters to Texas; in 2024, he moved X (formerly Twitter) from San Francisco to Texas, along with his personal residence.

During her 2010 gubernatorial campaign, former eBay CEO Meg Whitman indicated that if eBay had to start over, it would not rebuild in California.

Energy companies have similarly fled. Chevron left San Ramon, California, for Houston.

California no longer appears to be a state of innovation and resilience.

Recent failures include the Southland’s inability to prevent devastating wildfires in Pacific Palisades and Altadena, as local governments prioritized political maneuvering over essential infrastructure.

With such setbacks, hypocrisy becomes less of an issue.

Republican rivals have avoided mentioning Governor Newsom’s infamous 2020 COVID-19 dinner at the French Laundry in Napa, even though his team urged Californians to avoid gatherings with more than three households during Thanksgiving.

Harris faces scrutiny for her role under former President Joe Biden. She must answer for Biden’s decision to open the border to millions of unvetted immigrants without anticipating consequences.

In October 2024, Harris made a notable misstep on a television talk show when asked what she might have done differently than Biden, she replied: “There is not a thing that comes to mind.”

California Democratic political consultant Darry Sragow notes that after losing the world’s largest prize, Harris may become significantly different should she enter the 2028 race. He cautions against assuming she has learned from her 2024 missteps.

Sragow also observes that voters have long awaited someone to challenge Donald Trump head-on, and Newsom—described as “the anti-Trump troll”—could be that candidate.

Despite the state’s challenges, Californians still enjoy a climate that New Yorkers and Washingtonians envy. However, the economic landscape remains a critical concern.