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The California governor, a prominent member of the Democratic party, has revealed that he intends to decide on whether to run for president in 2028 once the 2026 midterm elections conclude.

"Yes, I couldn't be truthful if I denied it," the governor remarked when pressed about seriously considering a White House bid after the 2026 ballots. "I'd just be lying. And I won't do that."

The governor's tenure as governor ends in January 2027, and term limits prevent another run. However, he emphasized that any choice is still years away.

"The future will decide," he said.

Rising Profile as a Trump Critic

The California governor has come to the forefront as a high-profile critic of the current federal leadership, employing his online platforms and championing a proposition that would boost Democratic House seats in response to Republican redistricting efforts. This strategy has made him a target from adversaries.

Federal Funding Dispute

The former president's transportation chief, Sean Duffy, alleged that Newsom shows no concern about the state's residents in a weekend interview on a major news network. The secretary announced intentions to pull government money from California and warned suspending the state's ability to issue CDLs.

"I'm about to pull $160 million from California," Duffy declared, following a recent deadly accident in the state involving an undocumented semi truck driver that caused fatalities and injured individuals.

His administration highlighted that the federal government had renewed the worker's status multiple times, which allowed him to obtain a commercial driver's license under national regulations.

Duffy had earlier indicated he was withholding $40m from the state for failing to implement language proficiency rules for truck drivers.

Strong Response from the Team

"Ex-reality TV personality, now transportation chief, still doesn't understand national statutes," his administration said in a previous statement countering Duffy's threats. "Meanwhile, in contrast to this person, we focus on reality: The state's truck drivers had a accident mortality rate significantly lower than the countrywide rate. The state of Texas – the only state with additional licensed drivers – has a rate almost 50% higher than the state. Statistics are clear. The federal leadership misleads."

Public Opinion and Campaign Considerations

A this month's survey showed that a majority of the party and 48% of all registered voters indicated that Newsom must consider running for president in 2028. In recent years, Newsom's favorability has increased to an mean of 33.5% from previous levels, while his unfavorability has dropped from an typical level of previous highs to under 40%.

Earlier this year, the governor stated while traveling several battleground states that he had "no clue" about his future for the next presidential election.

He also referenced his earlier challenges, including being found to have a learning disability at the age of five.

"The thought that a individual who scored 960 on the SAT, who still struggles to read scripts, who was typically not at the front – the fact that this is even suggested is, by itself, remarkable," he stated. "No one can say? I'm looking forward to who emerges in the next election and who answers the call. And that's the question for the voters."