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· collected 2026-08-25 · by Alec Schemmel
Izzy Gardon, communications director for California Governor Gavin Newsom, publicly mocked Pete Buttigieg's recent visit to South Carolina, saying it was his first time there in three years. The exchange between Gardon and Buttigieg's representative Aida Ross on social media platform X has garnered attention online, highlighting the growing competition among Democratic Party hopefuls for Black voter support ahead of the 2028 presidential nomination. No specific numbers are mentioned in the article regarding the polls or popularity of the candidates. This article reports a developing feud between top aides to potential Democratic presidential contenders, with many critics condemning the public jabs as unprofessional and premature.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-25,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Izzy Gardon, a top aide to California Governor Gavin Newsom, mocked Pete Buttigieg's recent visit to South Carolina on social media. The post was in response to Aida Ross, Buttigieg's representative, who shared a photo of Buttigieg with members of the NAACP in Orangeburg, SC. Gardon joked that it was Buttigieg's first time visiting South Carolina in 3 years, implying that his efforts to connect with Black voters were not genuine. This exchange has sparked online buzz and highlights a growing fight within the Democratic Party over how to engage with Black voters ahead of the 2028 presidential nomination contest, which will be held in South Carolina. The issue is also tied to wider tensions about whether the party is doing enough to connect with Black voters and the South.
Written for “California Governor Politics Heats Up” on 2026-08-31,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The article's own words the score was based on. Each is quoted
verbatim and was checked against the article text before being
stored, so you can find it in the original.
Leaning score +0.35 for article 2233 (high confidence, 1 verified quote) · logged 2026-08-27
The battle for the Democratic Party’s 2028 presidential nomination is already spilling into public view, with a top aide to California Gov. Gavin Newsom taking a swipe at fellow White House hopeful Pete Buttigieg over his effort to build support with Black voters in the South.
asserted
aide → spill → South
Newsom communications director Izzy Gardon mocked Buttigieg's recent visit to South Carolina, which his representative Aida Ross highlighted with a post on X over the weekend that included a photo of the former Transportation Secretary with members of the Orangeburg branch of the NAACP.
asserted
that → mock → NAACP
"Pete returned to Orangeburg, SC!
asserted
Pete → return → Orangeburg
Great night with the Orangeburg Branch of the NAACP," Ross said alongside the photo.
asserted
Ross → say → photo
Meanwhile, Gardon responded to the post: "First time in SC in 3 years?
asserted
Gardon → respond → years
The exchange garnered buzz online, as it placed two of the Democratic Party's most closely watched potential presidential contenders at the center of a growing fight over Black voter outreach—an issue likely to be central in 2028 as South Carolina again prepares to hold the party’s first nominating contest.
asserted
Carolina → garner → contest
It also comes amid wider Democratic tensions over whether the party is doing enough to engage Black voters and the South, with Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens accusing the DNC of "abandoning the South" and "abandoning Black voters" after Atlanta was eliminated from 2028 convention contention last week.
asserted
Atlanta → come → contention
Meanwhile, South Carolina Democratic Party Chair Christale Spain declared last month, amid debate over the party’s presidential primary calendar, that "the South is not the past, it is the future," while Democratic chairs from five other southern states also previously warned the DNC against sending Black voters the message that their loyalty is "taken for granted," according to the Associated Press.
uncertain
loyalty → declare → Press
When reached for comment, Gardon told Fox News Digital that the post was made from his personal account and in his "personal capacity," calling it "simply my own observation."
asserted
post → reach → it
He stressed that he was "NOT speaking for the Governor or anyone else."
asserted
he → stress → Governor
Ross did not respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
asserted
Ross → respond → comment
"Love to watch Gavin Newsom staffers dunk on Pete Buttigieg staffers as they all jostle to catch up to AOC in the 2028 Dem primaries," Republican strategist Matt Whitlock wrote on X.
"We’re just dropping all pretenses huh," quipped political polling executive Adam Carlson.
asserted
Carlson → love → pretenses
Democrat strategists also weighed in on the in-fighting.
asserted
strategists → weigh → fighting
"Staffers of potential 2028ers who denigrate other potential 2028ers at this juncture should be embarrassed.
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who → denigrate → juncture
They reflect extremely poorly on their principals," Democrat strategist Jennifer Holdsworth said in response to Gardon's jab.
asserted
Holdsworth → reflect → jab
"Weird tweet to send rn - bad look," Democratic consultant Eric Koch said.
asserted
Koch → send → rn
"Potential 2028 staffers, huddle up: you do not want to start the fighting now or on this platform," added the Head of Digital Engagement at the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Stefan Smith.
asserted
Head → huddle → Union
"It’s too early in the cycle.
asserted
It → ’ → cycle
The longer we play nice (and encourage the principals to play nice) the better it is for everyone."
asserted
it → play → everyone
