🔗 Share this article

The California governor, a well-known Democratic figure, has revealed that he will determine whether to run for president in 2028 once the 2026 midterm elections are over.

"Yes, it would be dishonest if I said no," the governor commented when questioned about contemplating a campaign for president post the 2026 ballots. "That wouldn't be honest. And I can't do that."

The governor's time in office as governor ends in early 2027, and term limits prevent another run. But, he emphasized that any decision is still years away.

"The future will decide," he remarked.

Growing Prominence as a Administration Opponent

Newsom has stepped forward as a high-profile opponent of the former president's team, leveraging his digital presence and pushing a initiative that would boost the party's House seats in following Republican redistricting efforts. This action has made him a target from political opponents.

Federal Funding Dispute

The former president's secretary of transportation, Sean Duffy, alleged that Newsom is indifferent about the state's residents in a Sunday segment on Fox News. Duffy disclosed a strategy to cut federal funds from California and warned revoking the power to issue CDLs.

"I plan to withdraw $160 million from the state," Duffy said, in the wake of a recent deadly accident in California involving an non-citizen trucker that led to loss of life and injured individuals.

The governor's team pointed out that the U.S. government had renewed the driver's employment repeatedly, which permitted him to receive a CDL under national regulations.

Duffy had previously indicated he was withholding additional funds from California for not enforcing language proficiency rules for commercial drivers.

Firm Rebuttal from the Administration

"One-time television figure, now cabinet member, fails to grasp national statutes," Newsom's office said in a last month's comment addressing the funding warnings. "Meanwhile, unlike this clown, we focus on reality: The state's commercial driver's license holders had a death rate much lower than the national average. The state of Texas – the sole state with additional licensed drivers – has a rate markedly elevated than the state. Statistics are clear. This administration is dishonest."

Polling Data and Campaign Considerations

A recently conducted poll found that a majority of the party and 48% of all registered voters believed that Newsom must consider running for the White House in 2028. In recent years, public support for the governor has grown to an mean of a third from around 30%, while his disapproval has fallen from an typical level of more than 40% to current figures.

Earlier this year, the governor commented while on a trip several battleground states that he had "no idea" about his intentions for 2028.

He mentioned his personal struggles, including being found to have a learning disability at the age of five.

"The notion that a guy who scored 960 on the SAT, who has ongoing difficulties with text, who was often seated at the back – the idea that you would even throw that out is, by itself, extraordinary," he commented. "It's anyone's guess? I'm looking forward to who steps forward in the next election and who answers the call. And that is the issue for the American people."