Former New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio identified California Governor Gavin Newsom as the top Democratic prospect for the 2028 presidential race during an interview with NewsNation on Monday.

De Blasio told The Hill's broadcast partner that Newsom "has played his cards the best for 2028," placing the California governor at the top of his list of potential Democratic presidential candidates for the next election cycle.

The former mayor cited Newsom's political involvement as a factor in his assessment, though the complete details of his reasoning were not fully elaborated in the available reporting.

Newsom, who has served as California's governor since 2019, has been frequently mentioned as a potential future presidential candidate, particularly following his high-profile role in national Democratic politics and his successful defense against a recall election in 2021.

The 2028 presidential race remains several years away, with the 2024 election still to be determined. Early speculation about potential candidates typically begins years before formal campaign announcements.