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Gavin Newsom, a prominent Democratic figure, has revealed that he will decide on whether to seek the White House in 2028 after the 2026 midterm elections are over.

"Yes, I couldn't be truthful if I denied it," the governor commented when pressed about seriously considering a presidential run following 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 is ineligible for re-election. But, he cautioned that any choice is still years away.

"The future will decide," he said.

Rising Profile as a Political Adversary

The California governor has stepped forward as a prominent opponent of the Trump administration, leveraging his social media accounts and pushing a proposition that would boost the party's representation in Congress in following Republican redistricting efforts. This strategy has drawn criticism from critics.

Controversy Over Funds

Donald Trump's secretary of transportation, Sean Duffy, alleged that the governor is indifferent about Californians in a weekend segment on a major news network. Duffy revealed a strategy to cut federal funds from California and warned revoking the power to issue trucking licenses.

"I'm about to pull $160m from California," Duffy said, following a recent tragic collision in the state involving an non-citizen trucker that resulted in loss of life and casualties.

His administration noted that the federal government had renewed the worker's status on several occasions, which allowed him to obtain a CDL under national regulations.

Duffy had before announced he was blocking $40m from the state for not enforcing linguistic standards for commercial drivers.

Strong Response from the Administration

"One-time television figure, now transportation chief, fails to grasp U.S. regulations," Newsom's office responded in a last month's comment addressing Duffy's threats. "For now, in contrast to this person, we rely on data: The state's truck drivers had a death rate significantly lower than the countrywide rate. Texas – the single state with additional licensed drivers – has a rate almost 50% higher than the state. Facts don't lie. This administration is dishonest."

Voter Sentiment and Future Prospects

A recent study showed that 72% of Democrats and a significant portion of the electorate indicated that Newsom ought to campaign for the White House in 2028. In recent years, Newsom's favorability has risen to an typical level of a third from approximately 30%, while his unfavorability has dropped from an average of more than 40% to current figures.

In previous months, the governor stated while on a trip several swing states that he had "no clue" about his intentions for the next presidential election.

He noted his personal struggles, including being identified as dyslexic at the young age of five.

"The thought that a guy who got 960 on his SAT, who continues to find reading challenging, who was always in the back of the classroom – that such a possibility is discussed is, by itself, extraordinary," he said. "It's anyone's guess? I am eager to see who emerges in 2028 and who rises to the occasion. And that is the issue for the U.S. citizens."