[Source.](https://freebeacon.com/democrats/how-newsom-is-using-the-desantis-debate-to-gear-up-for-2028/) > The 2024 presidential election is still a year away, but a slew of Democratic governors already appear to be gearing up for 2028. Michigan's Gretchen Whitmer has a federal fundraising committee, Pennsylvania's Josh Shapiro is addressing crowds in New Hampshire, and New Jersey's Phil Murphy took an unannounced trip to Ukraine. > None of those governors, however, have cemented their future presidential aspirations quite like Gavin Newsom. Fresh off a trip to Beijing and a multi-state ad blitz, the California Democrat on Thursday will square off against 2024 Republican presidential candidate Ron DeSantis in a debate moderated by Fox News's Sean Hannity. While DeSantis hopes the sparring match will help him win over Iowa voters weeks before the Jan. 15 caucuses, political operatives say Newsom is doing the debate with a longer-term goal in mind: catapulting himself to the front of the line come 2028. My take? Yes, Newsom has his eyes on 2028, but he'd happily take the reins for 2024 if Biden's handlers decide Old Joe has had enough.