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Gavin Newsom, a prominent member of the Democratic party, has revealed that he plans to make a decision about whether to run for president in 2028 after the 2026 elections wrap up.

"Yes, I would be lying if I said no," Newsom commented when questioned about giving serious thought to a White House bid following the 2026 elections. "That wouldn't be honest. And I'm not."

The governor's current term as California's leader concludes in January 2027, and term limits prevent another run. Yet, he emphasized that any choice is still years away.

"The future will decide," he said.

Growing Prominence as a Trump Critic

He has come to the forefront as a high-profile adversary of the former president's team, using his digital presence and advocating for a ballot measure that would increase Democratic congressional seats in response to redistricting by Republicans. This strategy has made him a target from political opponents.

Federal Funding Dispute

The former president's transportation chief, Sean Duffy, claimed that the governor is indifferent about Californians in a recent appearance on a major news network. The secretary announced plans to cut federal funds from California and threatened suspending the authority to issue CDLs.

"I plan to withdraw a significant sum from the state," he declared, after a recent tragic collision in California involving an unauthorized trucker that resulted in loss of life and four injuries.

The governor's team noted that the U.S. government had reauthorized the driver's employment on several occasions, which permitted him to obtain a trucking license under U.S. law.

The transportation secretary had previously announced he was holding back $40m from the state for failing to implement language proficiency rules for CDL holders.

Firm Rebuttal from the Administration

"One-time television figure, now transportation chief, fails to grasp national statutes," his administration said in a last month's statement countering the funding warnings. "For now, as opposed to this individual, we focus on reality: The state's commercial driver's license holders had a death rate significantly lower than the national average. Texas – the single state with additional licensed drivers – has a rate almost 50% higher than the state. Statistics are clear. The federal leadership misleads."

Voter Sentiment and Campaign Considerations

A recent poll found that 72% of Democrats and 48% of all registered voters indicated that Newsom must consider running for the White House in the next election cycle. In recent years, public support for the governor has increased to an average of 33.5% from previous levels, while his unfavorability has dropped from an average of previous highs to current figures.

Some time ago, Newsom stated while traveling several battleground states that he had "no clue" about his plans for 2028.

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

"The idea that a guy who got 960 on his SAT, who still struggles to read scripts, who was often seated at the back – that such a possibility is discussed is, alone, extraordinary," he said. "Who the hell knows? I am eager to see who emerges in 2028 and who answers the call. And that remains the key point for the U.S. citizens."