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The California governor, a well-known Democratic figure, has disclosed that he intends to make a decision about whether to run for president in 2028 after the 2026 elections wrap up.

"Yeah, I couldn't be truthful if I said no," Newsom remarked when pressed about seriously considering a campaign for president after the 2026 elections. "It wouldn't be the truth. And I can't do that."

Newsom's tenure as governor wraps up in January 2027, and he cannot run again. However, he cautioned that any decision is still years away.

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

Growing Prominence as a Administration Opponent

The California governor has emerged as a prominent opponent of the Trump administration, leveraging his digital presence and advocating for a initiative that would boost the party's representation in Congress in as a counter to redistricting by Republicans. This move has invited attacks from critics.

Federal Funding Dispute

The former president's transportation chief, Sean Duffy, claimed that the governor is indifferent about the state's residents in a recent interview on a major news network. The secretary disclosed plans to withhold federal funds from California and suggested suspending the power to grant trucking licenses.

"I intend to cut $160 million from the state," he declared, after a recent tragic collision in California involving an undocumented commercial driver that caused loss of life and four injuries.

The governor's team highlighted that the federal government had reauthorized the worker's status multiple times, which permitted him to receive a CDL under national regulations.

Duffy had earlier indicated he was holding back $40m from California for not enforcing language proficiency rules for commercial drivers.

Firm Rebuttal from the Team

"Former D-list reality star, now cabinet member, still doesn't understand federal law," Newsom's office said in a last month's statement addressing the secretary's comments. "For now, in contrast to this person, we focus on reality: California commercial driver's license holders had a accident mortality rate significantly lower than the countrywide rate. Texas – the single state with more commercial holders – has a rate markedly elevated than the state. Facts don't lie. This administration is dishonest."

Polling Data and Political Future

A recent poll revealed that nearly three-quarters of Democratic voters and 48% of all registered voters said that the governor should run for the White House in 2028. Since Trump took office, public support for the governor has risen to an average of 33.5% from around 30%, while his unfavorability has decreased from an mean of more than 40% to current figures.

Some time ago, Newsom remarked while visiting several key regions that he had "no clue" about his intentions for the next presidential election.

He noted his earlier challenges, including being identified as dyslexic at the early childhood.

"The notion that a person who got 960 on his SAT, who continues to find reading challenging, who was often seated at the back – the fact that this is even suggested is, in and of itself, extraordinary," he stated. "Who the hell knows? I'm looking forward to who presents themselves in 2028 and who meets that moment. And that is the issue for the American people."