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The California governor, a prominent Democratic figure, has disclosed that he will determine whether to launch a presidential campaign in 2028 following the 2026 congressional elections conclude.

"Yeah, I would be lying if I said no," the governor commented when pressed about giving serious thought to a presidential run following the 2026 ballots. "That wouldn't be honest. And I can't do that."

Newsom's time in office as California's leader ends in January 2027, and he is ineligible for re-election. But, he noted that any determination is still years away.

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

Increased Visibility as a Political Adversary

The California governor has emerged as a prominent critic of the Trump administration, employing his digital presence and advocating for a ballot measure that would increase the party's House seats in response to GOP gerrymandering. This action has drawn criticism from critics.

Controversy Over Funds

Donald Trump's secretary of transportation, Sean Duffy, accused that the governor shows no concern about Californians in a weekend segment on a major news network. Duffy disclosed intentions to withhold federal funds from the state and threatened revoking the authority to grant CDLs.

"I plan to withdraw a significant sum from the state," Duffy stated, after a recently reported deadly accident in the state involving an unauthorized semi truck driver that caused loss of life and four injuries.

His administration pointed out that the national authorities had renewed the driver's employment repeatedly, which permitted him to secure a CDL under national regulations.

The transportation secretary had earlier stated he was withholding $40m from the state for ignoring linguistic standards for CDL holders.

Pointed Reply from the Governor's Office

"Ex-reality TV personality, now transportation chief, fails to grasp national statutes," his administration retorted in a last month's comment countering Duffy's threats. "In the meantime, unlike this clown, we'll stick to the facts: California CDL holders had a fatal crash rate significantly lower than the national average. Texas – the only state with additional licensed drivers – has a rate almost 50% higher than the state. Statistics are clear. The Trump administration does."

Polling Data and Political Future

A recently conducted study found that a majority of the party and a significant portion of the electorate believed that Newsom should run for president in 2028. In recent years, public support for the governor has grown to an mean of 33.5% from previous levels, while his disapproval has decreased from an average of more than 40% to under 40%.

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

He also referenced his earlier challenges, including being diagnosed with dyslexia at the early childhood.

"The notion that a person who scored 960 on the SAT, who continues to find reading challenging, who was typically not at the front – that such a possibility is discussed is, alone, extraordinary," he said. "It's anyone's guess? I await who steps forward in the next election and who meets that moment. And that remains the key point for the U.S. citizens."