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Gavin Newsom, a leading Democratic figure, has disclosed that he plans to decide on whether to seek the White House in 2028 once the 2026 midterm elections conclude.

"Absolutely, it would be dishonest if I denied it," Newsom remarked when pressed about contemplating a campaign for president following the 2026 elections. "I'd just be lying. And I can't do that."

The governor's tenure as governor ends in early 2027, and term limits prevent another run. But, he cautioned that any decision is not imminent.

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

Growing Prominence as a Administration Opponent

He has emerged as a prominent critic of the former president's team, using his digital presence and pushing a ballot measure that would expand the party's House seats in as a counter to GOP gerrymandering. This action has invited attacks from critics.

Federal Funding Dispute

The former president's transportation chief, Sean Duffy, alleged that Newsom is indifferent about the state's residents in a Sunday segment on Fox News. The secretary announced plans to cut federal funds from the state and suggested eliminating the state's ability to issue commercial driver's licenses.

"I intend to cut a significant sum from California," he stated, following a this week's fatal crash in California involving an undocumented commercial driver that resulted in fatalities and injured individuals.

The governor's team highlighted that the federal government had reauthorized the individual's authorization on several occasions, which allowed him to secure a commercial driver's license under national regulations.

Duffy had previously stated he was holding back $40m from California for failing to implement linguistic standards for commercial drivers.

Firm Rebuttal from the Team

"Former D-list reality star, now Secretary of Transportation, still doesn't understand federal law," Newsom's office retorted in a last month's release countering the funding warnings. "In the meantime, unlike this clown, we rely on data: California truck drivers had a fatal crash rate much lower than the U.S. average. Texas – the sole state with additional licensed drivers – has a rate markedly elevated than California. Facts don't lie. The federal leadership misleads."

Public Opinion and Future Prospects

A recently conducted poll revealed that nearly three-quarters of Democratic voters and almost half of voters believed that the governor should run for president in 2028. After the current administration began, Newsom's favorability has grown to an typical level of a third from approximately 30%, while his unfavorability has fallen from an average of more than 40% to 38.4%.

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

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

"The notion that a person who scored 960 on the SAT, who continues to find reading challenging, who was always in the back of the classroom – that such a possibility is discussed is, in and of itself, amazing," he stated. "It's anyone's guess? I'm looking forward to who presents themselves in 2028 and who rises to the occasion. And that's the question for the voters."