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Gavin Newsom, a prominent member of the Democratic party, has revealed that he plans to determine whether to run for president in 2028 after the 2026 midterm elections conclude.

"Absolutely, I would be lying if I denied it," the governor remarked when questioned about seriously considering a White House bid following the 2026 midterms. "That wouldn't be honest. And I won't do that."

Newsom's tenure as governor ends in early 2027, and he cannot run again. But, he emphasized that any decision is not imminent.

"The future will decide," he said.

Rising Profile as a Trump Critic

Newsom has stepped forward as a prominent opponent of the former president's team, employing his digital presence and pushing a proposition that would expand Democratic congressional seats in as a counter to GOP gerrymandering. This move has drawn criticism from political opponents.

Federal Funding Dispute

Donald Trump's secretary of transportation, Sean Duffy, alleged that Newsom shows no concern about Californians in a Sunday interview on a major news network. Duffy revealed a strategy to cut taxpayer dollars from California and suggested revoking the authority to grant trucking licenses.

"I plan to withdraw $160 million from the state," Duffy stated, after a recent deadly accident in California involving an undocumented trucker that led to loss of life and casualties.

The governor's team pointed out that the U.S. government had approved the individual's authorization on several occasions, which permitted him to secure a commercial driver's license under federal law.

The transportation secretary had previously stated he was holding back additional funds from California for not enforcing language proficiency rules for CDL holders.

Firm Rebuttal from the Team

"Former D-list reality star, now cabinet member, continues to misunderstand federal law," the governor's team retorted in a previous release addressing Duffy's threats. "For now, in contrast to this person, we'll stick to the facts: The state's CDL holders had a death rate nearly 40% lower than the U.S. average. Texas – the only state with more commercial holders – has a rate almost 50% higher than the state. Data speaks for itself. The federal leadership misleads."

Public Opinion and Future Prospects

A recently conducted survey found that a majority of the party and a significant portion of the electorate believed that Newsom ought to campaign for the White House in the next election cycle. Since Trump took office, public support for the governor has increased to an average of about one-third from previous levels, while his disapproval has decreased from an mean of previous highs to under 40%.

Some time ago, Newsom commented while on a trip several battleground states that he had "no clue" about his intentions for the next presidential election.

He also referenced his earlier challenges, including being diagnosed with dyslexia at the early childhood.

"The idea that a person who had modest test scores, who continues to find reading challenging, who was typically not at the front – the fact that this is even suggested is, in and of itself, extraordinary," he said. "It's anyone's guess? I'm looking forward to who presents themselves in the next election and who rises to the occasion. And that's the question for the voters."