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Gavin Newsom, a leading member of the Democratic party, has revealed that he will make a decision about whether to launch a presidential campaign in 2028 following the 2026 congressional elections wrap up.

"Yeah, I would be lying otherwise," Newsom stated when questioned about seriously considering a campaign for president following the 2026 elections. "That wouldn't be honest. And I can't do that."

The governor's current term as governor wraps up in early 2027, and he cannot run again. Yet, he emphasized that any determination is not imminent.

"The future will decide," he added.

Growing Prominence as a Administration Opponent

He has stepped forward as a high-profile adversary of the Trump administration, employing his social media accounts and pushing a initiative that would expand Democratic congressional seats in response to Republican redistricting efforts. This move has drawn criticism from adversaries.

Clash on Transportation

Donald Trump's transportation chief, Sean Duffy, accused that Newsom is indifferent about the state's residents in a recent appearance on Fox News. Duffy announced a strategy to withhold federal funds from California and warned revoking the state's ability to provide CDLs.

"I intend to cut $160m from California," Duffy said, following a recent deadly accident in California involving an unauthorized semi truck driver that caused fatalities and four injuries.

Newsom's office pointed out that the federal government had approved the worker's status multiple times, which enabled him to obtain a commercial driver's license under federal law.

Duffy had previously stated he was blocking $40 million from California for ignoring English language requirements for truck drivers.

Firm Rebuttal from the Team

"Ex-reality TV personality, now Secretary of Transportation, fails to grasp federal law," the governor's team retorted in a previous release countering the secretary's comments. "For now, as opposed to this individual, we'll stick to the facts: The state's CDL holders had a fatal crash rate nearly 40% lower than the national average. The state of Texas – the sole state with more commercial holders – has a rate substantially higher than the state. Data speaks for itself. This administration is dishonest."

Public Opinion and Campaign Considerations

A recent poll showed that nearly three-quarters of Democratic voters and a significant portion of the electorate indicated that the governor should run for the White House in 2028. In recent years, his approval ratings has risen to an mean of about one-third from previous levels, while his negative ratings has fallen from an average of previous highs to under 40%.

In previous months, Newsom stated while traveling several battleground states that he had "no idea" about his intentions for the next presidential election.

He mentioned his personal struggles, including being diagnosed with dyslexia at the young age of five.

"The thought that a individual who had modest test scores, who still struggles to read scripts, who was typically not at the front – the fact that this is even suggested is, by itself, extraordinary," he stated. "No one can say? I'm looking forward to who steps forward in 2028 and who rises to the occasion. And that's the question for the U.S. citizens."