Gov. Gavin Newsom has been bolstering presidential ambitions in recent weeks, taking a particular interest in the Charleston, South Carolina, mayoral race — a critical Democratic voting region going into the 2024 election.
Middleton was an Obama appointee and a longtime aide to Rep. Jim Clyburn , who fully backs a reelection bid for President Joe Biden. Middleton has garnered endorsements from several high-profile Democrats, including Rep. Ro Khanna , Sen. Cory Booker , Gov. J.B. Pritzker , and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
While South Carolina is a Republican stronghold where former President Donald Trump is dominating the polls, pockets of blue have emerged in the state, including the competitive Charleston County. Newsom has denied claims he’ll run for president in 2024 and has been adamant about supporting Biden, telling NBC's Meet the Press in September that it’s time to “move on” from those rumors.