While Republicans may have found a new boogeyman in New York Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, political operatives are warning they might be overlooking a much more formidable opponent, Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA).

Since surviving a 2021 recall and cruising to reelection a year later, Newsom has transformed his governorship into a national platform. He has sparred publicly with President Donald Trump, debated Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) on Fox News, and used his Campaign for Democracy PAC to boost Democratic candidates and causes across the country.