The state Democratic Party chairwoman said the visit is about "building partnerships, uplifting communities, and showing rural voters they aren't forgotten."

Term-limited California Gov. Gavin Newsom tours South Carolina for meet and greets at cafes and churches, building relationships in a key early primary state amid 2028 speculation.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom embarked Tuesday on a two-day swing through rural South Carolina as the high-profile Democrat seeks to position himself as a leader for a party in rebuilding mode while simultaneously stoking fresh speculation about a potential 2028 presidential bid.

If Gavin Newsom is going to be a top contender for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2028, he must figure out how to appeal to voters in the Deep South and Middle America.