🔗 Share this article

The California governor, a leading member of the Democratic party, has revealed that he will make a decision about whether to run for president in 2028 following the 2026 midterm elections are over.

"Absolutely, I would be lying if I denied it," the governor remarked when asked about contemplating a White House bid post the 2026 midterms. "I'd just be lying. And I can't do that."

The governor's time in office as California's leader concludes in early 2027, and he cannot run again. Yet, he cautioned that any determination is still years away.

"Fate will determine that," he added.

Growing Prominence as a Administration Opponent

The California governor has come to the forefront as a prominent opponent of the former president's team, using his online platforms and pushing a initiative that would boost the party's congressional seats in as a counter to GOP gerrymandering. This move has made him a target from critics.

Controversy Over Funds

Donald Trump's secretary of transportation, Sean Duffy, alleged that Newsom does not care about the state's residents in a Sunday appearance on Fox News. The secretary revealed intentions to withhold federal funds from the state and warned suspending the authority to issue trucking licenses.

"I'm about to pull $160 million from California," Duffy said, after a recent fatal crash in California involving an non-citizen trucker that led to fatalities and four injuries.

Newsom's office highlighted that the national authorities had renewed the individual's authorization on several occasions, which enabled him to obtain a CDL under U.S. law.

The transportation secretary had before announced he was blocking $40m from the state for failing to implement linguistic standards for commercial drivers.

Pointed Reply from the Governor's Office

"One-time television figure, now Secretary of Transportation, continues to misunderstand national statutes," the governor's team said in a previous comment addressing the secretary's comments. "Meanwhile, as opposed to this individual, we rely on data: California CDL holders had a fatal crash rate nearly 40% lower than the U.S. average. The state of Texas – the only state with additional licensed drivers – has a rate substantially higher than the state. Statistics are clear. The Trump administration does."

Voter Sentiment and Campaign Considerations

A recently conducted survey showed that nearly three-quarters of Democratic voters and a significant portion of the electorate believed that the governor ought to campaign for the White House in the next election cycle. Since Trump took office, public support for the governor has risen to an typical level of about one-third from approximately 30%, while his disapproval has decreased from an mean of more than 40% to 38.4%.

In previous months, Newsom stated while on a trip several battleground states that he had "no idea" about his intentions for 2028.

He also referenced his past difficulties, including being found to have a learning disability at the young age of five.

"The notion that a guy who scored 960 on the SAT, who has ongoing difficulties with text, who was always in the back of the classroom – the fact that this is even suggested is, alone, amazing," he stated. "It's anyone's guess? I am eager to see who emerges in 2028 and who rises to the occasion. And that remains the key point for the voters."