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The California governor, a well-known member of the Democratic party, has indicated that he will decide on whether to launch a presidential campaign in 2028 once the 2026 elections conclude.

"Yeah, I couldn't be truthful otherwise," Newsom commented when questioned about giving serious thought to a White House bid after the 2026 midterms. "That wouldn't be honest. And I won't do that."

Newsom's current term as California's leader ends in the start of 2027, and he is ineligible for re-election. Yet, he emphasized that any decision is not imminent.

"It's up to destiny," he added.

Growing Prominence as a Trump Critic

He has emerged as a notable critic of the Trump administration, using his digital presence and advocating for a ballot measure that would boost the party's congressional seats in as a counter to GOP gerrymandering. This action has drawn criticism from adversaries.

Clash on Transportation

Donald Trump's transportation chief, Sean Duffy, accused that the governor is indifferent about Californians in a weekend appearance on Fox News. The secretary disclosed intentions to pull taxpayer dollars from the state and suggested eliminating the authority to provide CDLs.

"I'm about to pull $160m from the state," Duffy declared, in the wake of a recent tragic collision in the state involving an unauthorized trucker that caused fatalities and four injuries.

Newsom's office highlighted that the federal government had reauthorized the individual's authorization multiple times, which permitted him to receive a commercial driver's license under U.S. law.

Duffy had previously indicated he was holding back additional funds from the state for failing to implement English language requirements for commercial drivers.

Pointed Reply from the Administration

"Ex-reality TV personality, now transportation chief, fails to grasp U.S. regulations," the governor's team said in a last month's release addressing the funding warnings. "In the meantime, unlike this clown, we'll stick to the facts: California commercial driver's license holders had a accident mortality rate nearly 40% lower than the national average. The state of Texas – the only state with additional licensed drivers – has a rate substantially higher than California. Statistics are clear. This administration is dishonest."

Public Opinion and Campaign Considerations

A recently conducted poll showed that 72% of Democrats and almost half of voters believed that Newsom should run for the White House in the next election cycle. In recent years, his approval ratings has grown to an typical level of a third from around 30%, while his unfavorability has dropped from an mean of previous highs to under 40%.

Some time ago, the governor commented while on a trip several battleground states that he had "no clue" about his future for the next presidential election.

He also referenced his past difficulties, including being found to have a learning disability at the early childhood.

"The thought that a individual who got 960 on his SAT, who still struggles to read scripts, who was always in the back of the classroom – that such a possibility is discussed is, alone, extraordinary," he commented. "No one can say? I am eager to see who steps forward in the next election and who meets that moment. And that remains the key point for the American people."