(TNND) — Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom is seeing his profile grow as he continues his fight against the Trump administration with a redistricting effort in California to wipe away expected gains from Texas and using social media to endlessly troll the president and other Republicans.

Newsom, long considered a likely candidate for a Democratic presidential nomination, has found a major platform in taking the fight back to President Donald Trump in trying to redraw congressional districts to favor his party in the upcoming 2026 midterms. It has positioned him as a leading Democratic figure combatting Trump and Republicans with Democrats in the congressional minority and locked out of power in Washington.

Polling conducted since the redistricting push from Newsom has found it is paying dividends for him among the party’s voters. A POLITICO-Citrin Center-Possibility Lab survey released Wednesday showed the governor overtaking former Vice President and California Sen. Kamala Harris in a hypothetical matchup in the 2028 presidential primary.

Between Newsom and Harris, the governor leads 25% to 19% among the state’s registered Democratic voters and Democratic-leaning independents. They survey also found that 75% of registered Democratic voters said they are “excited” about the idea of Newsom running, while 67% who are enthusiastic about Harris.

The former vice president has stepped back from politics since losing the 2024 election and departing office and opted against running to replace Newsom, who is term-limited and will be out of office after the 2026 elections. With Harris limiting her public appearance, Newsom is the most high-profile California Democrat active in the day-to-day drumbeat of politics.

Democrats in Congress are locked out of power in Washington and unable to influence much legislation unless it comes in a must-pass bill that needs to get over the Seante filibuster. That leaves governors to wield what power they have to combat Trump and resist the administration’s priorities.

While redrawing California’s maps is providing voters with evidence of Democratic resistance, it also carries some risk for Newsom. The state’s voters will have to approve sidelining its redistricting commission and approve the proposed map in a special election slated for November.

If voters approve, the map will replace the one drawn by the independent commission through the 2030 elections. But if it fails, Newsom could be stuck having expended political capital on a thorny issue with nothing to show for it.

“That's the real wild card. He does depend on the voters to affirm these maps he wants to use to counter Trump's Texas and other state pushes,” said David McLennan, a political science professor and director of the Meredith poll. “He will have to find some other issue, even after the Californians vote in November. This might be just the first step for Newsom to take in his 2028 bid.”

Newsom’s press office has also taken to frequently trolling Trump and Republicans with an onslaught of posts mocking the president’s writing style and frequently used phrases that has drawn attention online and backlash from Trump’s supporters.

Along with redistricting, Newsom has been a vocal critic of the Trump administration’s crackdown on immigration, and the state has gotten involved in lawsuits challenging the legality of the president’s sprawling tariff agenda. It all comes as Democrats are trying to repair their image with voters, with the party recently hitting an all-time low in approval and trailing Trump and Republicans on trust from Americans on which party is best suited to handle major issues.

Democratic voters appear to be taking notice, giving Newsom an early boost in the very early days of 2028 campaigning. Much of the field is still undecided but some expected candidates have already started traveling to early voting states to meet with voters and party officials to lay the groundwork for a future campaign.

True campaign season is still years away with focus on the 2026 midterms and no candidates having already declared their intention to run for president. Without an incumbent in the White House, the field is likely to be sprawling with a wide range of voices along the party’s ideological spectrum.

He will also have to overcome pushback for some of California’s issues that happened during his tenure like a homelessness crisis and the state’s extremely high cost of living.

“The question is, depending on how the Democrats structure their calendar for 2028, can Newsom get some early momentum?” McLennan said. “I don't think you can label Newsom a frontrunner. The California baggage is going to be there, but there's nobody else who's a frontrunner right now, and so that works to his advantage.”