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The California governor, a leading Democratic figure, has revealed that he plans to make a decision about whether to launch a presidential campaign in 2028 after the 2026 midterm elections are over.

"Absolutely, I couldn't be truthful otherwise," Newsom remarked when questioned about giving serious thought to a presidential run following the 2026 elections. "I'd just be lying. And I won't do that."

The governor's tenure as governor ends in January 2027, and he is ineligible for re-election. Yet, he emphasized that any determination is a long way off.

"Fate will determine that," he remarked.

Growing Prominence as a Trump Critic

The California governor has stepped forward as a prominent critic of the former president's team, leveraging his online platforms and championing a ballot measure that would boost the party's House seats in as a counter to Republican redistricting efforts. This strategy has drawn criticism from critics.

Controversy Over Funds

The former president's secretary of transportation, Sean Duffy, accused that Newsom does not care about Californians in a weekend interview on a major news network. The secretary announced intentions to cut federal funds from California and suggested suspending the authority to issue CDLs.

"I intend to cut $160 million from California," he said, in the wake of a recent tragic collision in California involving an unauthorized trucker that caused loss of life and four injuries.

Newsom's office highlighted that the federal government had renewed the driver's employment repeatedly, which allowed him to secure a commercial driver's license under federal law.

The transportation secretary had before indicated he was holding back additional funds from California for ignoring English language requirements for truck drivers.

Firm Rebuttal from the Governor's Office

"Former D-list reality star, now transportation chief, fails to grasp national statutes," his administration responded in a last month's comment countering the secretary's comments. "In the meantime, as opposed to this individual, we'll stick to the facts: California commercial driver's license holders had a accident mortality rate significantly lower than the countrywide rate. The state of Texas – the sole state with more commercial holders – has a rate substantially higher than California. Data speaks for itself. This administration is dishonest."

Voter Sentiment and Campaign Considerations

A recently conducted study revealed that 72% of Democrats and almost half of voters believed that Newsom should run for the White House in 2028. After the current administration began, his approval ratings has increased to an typical level of a third from around 30%, while his disapproval has dropped from an typical level of previous highs to under 40%.

Earlier this year, the governor remarked while traveling several battleground states that he had "uncertainty" about his future for the next presidential election.

He noted his earlier challenges, including being diagnosed with dyslexia at the young age of five.

"The idea that a individual who got 960 on his SAT, who continues to find reading challenging, who was always in the back of the classroom – the fact that this is even suggested is, by itself, amazing," he said. "It's anyone's guess? I await who presents themselves in 2028 and who meets that moment. And that's the question for the American people."