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The California governor, a leading Democratic figure, has indicated that he plans to make a decision about whether to seek the White House in 2028 following the 2026 midterm elections wrap up.

"Yes, I would be lying if I said no," Newsom stated when pressed about seriously considering a campaign for president after the 2026 ballots. "It wouldn't be the truth. And I can't do that."

The governor's time in office as California's leader concludes in January 2027, and term limits prevent another run. Yet, he cautioned that any decision is still years away.

"The future will decide," he added.

Rising Profile as a Trump Critic

The California governor has stepped forward as a notable critic of the Trump administration, leveraging his online platforms and advocating for a ballot measure that would expand the party's House seats in as a counter to Republican redistricting efforts. This move has made him a target from critics.

Federal Funding Dispute

The former president's transportation chief, Sean Duffy, claimed that the governor does not care about Californians in a Sunday segment on a major news network. The secretary revealed plans to pull federal funds from California and threatened eliminating the state's ability to grant commercial driver's licenses.

"I'm about to pull $160m from California," he declared, in the wake of a recently reported deadly accident in the state involving an unauthorized trucker that led to loss of life and injured individuals.

Newsom's office highlighted that the U.S. government had reauthorized the worker's status multiple times, which allowed him to secure a trucking license under federal law.

Duffy had before stated he was holding back $40m from the state for ignoring language proficiency rules for truck drivers.

Pointed Reply from the Governor's Office

"Former D-list reality star, now transportation chief, fails to grasp national statutes," Newsom's office said in a recent release countering Duffy's threats. "In the meantime, unlike this clown, we focus on reality: California truck drivers had a fatal crash rate nearly 40% lower than the U.S. average. The state of Texas – the only state with additional licensed drivers – has a rate almost 50% higher than the state. Data speaks for itself. The Trump administration does."

Public Opinion and Political Future

A this month's survey revealed that nearly three-quarters of Democratic voters and almost half of voters believed that the governor should run for president in 2028. In recent years, Newsom's favorability has grown to an average of 33.5% from around 30%, while his negative ratings has dropped from an average of over 40% to 38.4%.

Earlier this year, the governor commented while on a trip several battleground states that he had "no idea" about his plans for 2028.

He noted his past difficulties, including being diagnosed with dyslexia at the early childhood.

"The idea that a guy who got 960 on his SAT, who has ongoing difficulties with text, who was often seated at the back – the fact that this is even suggested is, alone, remarkable," he said. "It's anyone's guess? I await who presents themselves in 2028 and who meets that moment. And that's the question for the U.S. citizens."