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The California governor, a well-known Democratic figure, has revealed that he plans to decide on whether to launch a presidential campaign in 2028 once the 2026 congressional elections wrap up.

"Absolutely, I couldn't be truthful if I said no," Newsom remarked when pressed about contemplating a campaign for president after the 2026 elections. "I'd just be lying. And I'm not."

Newsom's current term as governor ends in the start of 2027, and he is ineligible for re-election. Yet, he emphasized that any choice is a long way off.

"The future will decide," he said.

Growing Prominence as a Administration Opponent

He has come to the forefront as a notable critic of the current federal leadership, leveraging his online platforms and advocating for a initiative that would expand Democratic House seats in response to Republican redistricting efforts. This action has made him a target from critics.

Controversy Over Funds

Donald Trump's secretary of transportation, Sean Duffy, accused that the governor is indifferent about the state's residents in a Sunday interview on Fox News. The secretary announced plans to cut taxpayer dollars from the state and suggested suspending the power to issue trucking licenses.

"I intend to cut $160m from California," Duffy stated, in the wake of a recently reported tragic collision in the state involving an unauthorized semi truck driver that led to three deaths and four injuries.

The governor's team noted that the national authorities had renewed the worker's status multiple times, which allowed him to receive a CDL under U.S. law.

Duffy had earlier announced he was blocking $40m from the state for not enforcing English language requirements for CDL holders.

Pointed Reply from the Governor's Office

"One-time television figure, now cabinet member, continues to misunderstand U.S. regulations," his administration retorted in a last month's comment addressing the funding warnings. "In the meantime, as opposed to this individual, we focus on reality: The state's commercial driver's license holders had a death rate significantly lower than the countrywide rate. The state of Texas – the only state with a larger number of CDL holders – has a rate substantially higher than the state. Data speaks for itself. This administration is dishonest."

Polling Data and Future Prospects

A recently conducted poll found that nearly three-quarters of Democratic voters and almost half of voters believed that the governor ought to campaign for the White House in the next election cycle. Since Trump took office, public support for the governor has grown to an average of 33.5% from approximately 30%, while his unfavorability has dropped from an typical level of over 40% to under 40%.

Some time ago, Newsom stated while on a trip several battleground states that he had "no clue" about his future for 2028.

He noted his past difficulties, including being diagnosed with dyslexia at the young age of five.

"The notion that a guy who scored 960 on the SAT, who continues to find reading challenging, who was always in the back of the classroom – that such a possibility is discussed is, by itself, amazing," he stated. "It's anyone's guess? I await who emerges in the next election and who rises to the occasion. And that's the question for the U.S. citizens."