An escalating clash pits a Republican president looking to fulfill his mass deportation goals against a Democratic governor with White House aspirations hoping to mobilize opposition.

California Governor Gavin Newsom took to the airwaves Tuesday night — with federal troops stationed in his state’s largest city and immigration agents rounding up residents — and warned Americans that democracy itself was under attack from President Donald Trump.

Trump will sign disapproval resolutions under the Congressional Review Act to bar California's plan to end the sale of gasoline-only vehicles by 2035

Enten found that Newsom is leading the race to become the next Democratic nominee, standing at 12% odds, according to online prediction market Kalshi. He is followed by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) at 10%, former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg at 10%, and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro at 6%.

California Republicans have found ways to convince Trump he’s helping the state rather than Newsom before, one expert said.

Democrat Gavin Newsom has not been afraid to square off against the president - but this confrontational strategy is not without political risk.

Gavin Newsom won praise on Wednesday for his speech Tuesday night seen by a national audience, something many Democrats saw as a shot across the bow to President Donald Trump that they can fight Trump -- and one that sparked new talk of Newsom as the party's standard-bearer in 2028.

Gavin Newsom (D) warned in a primetime address Tuesday amid President Donald Trump’s military response to the Los Angeles protests that this “assault” on democracy will spread across the country if Trump continues to go unchecked.

"Come and get me, tough guy. I don't give a damn," Newsom said after saying border czar Tom Homan had threatened to arrest him for speaking out on ICE raids.

Newsom's 2028 presidential aspirations hang in the balance as the eyes of the nation are on California's clash with immigration authorities.