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Gavin Newsom, a well-known Democratic figure, has revealed that he will determine whether to run for president in 2028 after the 2026 congressional elections wrap up.

"Absolutely, I couldn't be truthful otherwise," Newsom stated when pressed about contemplating a White House bid following the 2026 elections. "That wouldn't be honest. And I'm not."

Newsom's tenure as California's leader concludes in early 2027, and he cannot run again. Yet, he emphasized that any decision is a long way off.

"Fate will determine that," he added.

Growing Prominence as a Political Adversary

He has emerged as a notable adversary of the Trump administration, employing his online platforms and advocating for a proposition that would increase Democratic House seats in response to redistricting by Republicans. This strategy has invited attacks from political opponents.

Federal Funding Dispute

The former president's transportation chief, Sean Duffy, claimed that Newsom is indifferent about Californians in a Sunday interview on Fox News. The secretary revealed intentions to pull taxpayer dollars from the state and warned eliminating the state's ability to grant CDLs.

"I'm about to pull $160 million from the state," Duffy said, following a recent deadly accident in the state involving an undocumented trucker that resulted in fatalities and casualties.

Newsom's office highlighted that the national authorities had approved the individual's authorization multiple times, which allowed him to receive a commercial driver's license under national regulations.

The transportation secretary had before indicated he was blocking $40 million from California for ignoring linguistic standards for commercial drivers.

Pointed Reply from the Team

"Ex-reality TV personality, now transportation chief, continues to misunderstand federal law," the governor's team retorted in a recent release countering the secretary's comments. "For now, as opposed to this individual, we'll stick to the facts: California CDL holders had a death rate significantly lower than the national average. The state of Texas – the only state with more commercial holders – has a rate almost 50% higher than California. Data speaks for itself. The Trump administration does."

Polling Data and Future Prospects

A recent poll found that nearly three-quarters of Democratic voters and 48% of all registered voters said that Newsom should run for president in 2028. In recent years, Newsom's favorability has risen to an typical level of a third from previous levels, while his disapproval has fallen from an typical level of more than 40% to under 40%.

In previous months, Newsom commented while on a trip several key regions that he had "no clue" about his plans for the next presidential election.

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

"The idea that a person who had modest test scores, who still struggles to read scripts, who was typically not at the front – the idea that you would even throw that out is, by itself, extraordinary," he stated. "No one can say? I am eager to see who emerges in 2028 and who answers the call. And that's the question for the U.S. citizens."