AXIOS (Alex Thompson) - California's ugly succession war hangs over Gavin Newsom
The day that launched Gavin Newsom as a presidential frontrunner also brought an unwelcome surprise that could haunt the California governor's potential 2028 campaign. Why it matters: Sen. Alex Padilla caught Newsom off guard Nov. 4 by declaring he wouldn't run for governor — depriving Newsom of his preferred successor on the same day the governor triumphed in a statewide redistricting referendum. - The governor has resisted endorsing any other potential successor ahead of the June 2 primary. There's no clear Democratic frontrunner , and he wants to have a good relationship with whoever wins. The big picture: The winner of the California race matters a great deal for Newsom's campaign. His governance of the state — and Republican…