Gavin Newsom Once Again Becomes a Meme

Old photos of the California governor (and navy-suit enthusiast) are being widely shared as bruised Democrats seek a savior.

In the past week, a particular photo has been recirculating in certain corners of the internet. It features Gavin Newsom, California’s governor, leisurely reading Toni Morrison’s “Beloved.”

In the carefully staged picture, Mr. Newsom’s attention is fixed on the book (oh, he’s reading, folks), his lips are pursed, his unblemished white shirt is tucked into his blue pants with the tidiness of an Army cot. His hair? Do you even have to ask? Naturally, it’s slicked back like golden-era Pat Riley.

The shot was uploaded to Mr. Newsom’s Twitter account two years ago, with the caption “Reading some banned books to figure out what these states are so afraid of.” To Mr. Newsom, who has repeatedly sparred with Republican figures, even reading can be an antagonistic, publicity-seeking act.

In the days since Donald J. Trump won the presidency, as the Democratic Party busies itself with soul-searching, Mr. Newsom is again being propped up by some people on social media as a potential democratic savior.

On Amazon, “Gavin Newsom 2028” shirts are being sold for $13. There is also a sense, among certain Democratic voters, that the governor, a white man who looks like “Generic President #1” from a Netflix political drama, might appeal to demographic groups that the party is losing hold of, including suburban women.