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The California governor, a leading member of the Democratic party, has indicated that he plans to make a decision about whether to seek the White House in 2028 after the 2026 congressional elections wrap up.

"Yes, I would be lying otherwise," Newsom remarked when asked about giving serious thought to a campaign for president post the 2026 midterms. "It wouldn't be the truth. And I can't do that."

The governor's current term as governor wraps up in January 2027, and he is ineligible for re-election. Yet, he emphasized that any choice is still years away.

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

Increased Visibility as a Political Adversary

Newsom has stepped forward as a notable adversary of the current federal leadership, using his online platforms and pushing a proposition that would expand Democratic House seats in following GOP gerrymandering. This move has drawn criticism from political opponents.

Controversy Over Funds

Donald Trump's secretary of transportation, Sean Duffy, accused that Newsom does not care about Californians in a Sunday segment on Fox News. The secretary disclosed plans to withhold taxpayer dollars from California and threatened revoking the authority to issue commercial driver's licenses.

"I plan to withdraw a significant sum from California," Duffy said, in the wake of a this week's fatal crash in California involving an non-citizen semi truck driver that caused loss of life and four injuries.

His administration highlighted that the national authorities had reauthorized the driver's employment repeatedly, which enabled him to secure a trucking license under federal law.

The transportation secretary had earlier stated he was holding back additional funds from California for not enforcing linguistic standards for commercial drivers.

Firm Rebuttal from the Team

"Ex-reality TV personality, now transportation chief, fails to grasp U.S. regulations," the governor's team responded in a recent comment addressing the funding warnings. "In the meantime, unlike this clown, we'll stick to the facts: The state's CDL holders had a fatal crash rate much lower than the countrywide rate. Texas – the sole state with additional licensed drivers – has a rate almost 50% higher than the state. Data speaks for itself. This administration is dishonest."

Polling Data and Political Future

A recent study revealed that 72% of Democrats and a significant portion of the electorate said that Newsom should run for president in the next election cycle. After the current administration began, his approval ratings has risen to an typical level of 33.5% from approximately 30%, while his negative ratings has decreased from an average of previous highs to current figures.

Earlier this year, the governor remarked while visiting several swing states that he had "no idea" about his intentions for the next presidential election.

He mentioned his past difficulties, including being identified as dyslexic at the age of five.

"The idea that a guy who got 960 on his SAT, who has ongoing difficulties with text, who was always in the back of the classroom – that such a possibility is discussed is, by itself, amazing," he stated. "Who the hell knows? I'm looking forward to who steps forward in the next election and who answers the call. And that remains the key point for the voters."