Could this be a sign that Newsom will run in 2028? Gov. Gavin Newsom has officially challenged Vice President JD Vance to a debate. Newsom’s callout comes as Vance ripped Newsom and other California lawmakers during his recent visit to California. The San Francisco Chronicle had more on Newsom’s Call out: Gov. Gavin Newsom challenged Vice President J.D. Vance to a debate after Vance called Sen. Alex Padilla “Jose” during a press conference in Los Angeles Friday. Vance, who was in the city to meet with federal officials after weeks of protests of immigration raids and detentions, repeatedly slammed Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass during the press conference for their stances on immigration and pushback against the administration of President Donald Trump ordering the National Guard and U.S. “I was hoping Jose Padilla would be here to ask a question. But unfortunately I guess he decided to not show up because there wasn’t the theater,” Vance said. “It’s pure political theater.” Padilla, who is California’s first Hispanic senator, was forcibly removed from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s press conference last week after identifying himself as a senator asking a question — though she later claimed she did not know he was a senator — and was handcuffed before being released. On X, Newsom shot back at Vance’s misnaming of the Senator before challenging him to a debate. J.D. “Vance served with Alex Padilla in the United States Senate. Calling him ‘Jose Padilla’ is not an accident,” Newsom wrote. Jose Padilla is the name of a U.S. citizen convicted of aiding al-Qaida terrorists in 2007 now serving a 21-year federal sentence. Newsom also posted to Vance that it was “nice of you to finally make it out to California.” “Since you’re so eager to talk about me, how about saying it to my face? Let’s debate. Time and place?” Newsom wrote. The governor’s press office X account also responded Friday evening, posting an altered photo of Vance at the press conference with a cartoonish version of his face and saying: “Donald, you should send @JDVance out to California more often. He’s absolutely crushing it!” Take a look: Hey @JDVance — nice of you to finally make it out to California. Since you’re so eager to talk about me, how about saying it to my face? Let’s debate. Time and place? — Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) June 20, 2025 JD Vance served with Alex Padilla in the United States Senate. Calling him “Jose Padilla” is not an accident. pic.twitter.com/UOgdzdKcuy — Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) June 20, 2025 Fox LA had more details on Vance’s visit to California: Vice President JD Vance arrived in Los Angeles on Friday to visit the city amidst ongoing immigration protests and raids. Once arriving in LA, he visited the federal building in Westwood and held a press conference discussing the recent raids and the administration’s response and goals. Throughout the press conference he lashed out at Gov. Gavin Newsom saying he egged on protesters and endangered law enforcement personnel. “You had people who were doing the simple job of enforcing the law, and they had rioters egged on by the governor and the mayor, making it harder for them to do their job. That is disgraceful. And it is why the president has responded so forcefully. What happened in Los Angeles, number one, because we’ve got to enforce our borders and get so many of these criminals out of our country to begin with. And number two, when you have violent agitators who make it impossible for the law enforcement to do their job, it is necessary to protect them and to defend them,” Vance exclaimed Friday afternoon. Newsom previously debated Governor Ron DeSantis. Watch how that went down here: