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The California governor, a well-known Democratic figure, has revealed that he will determine whether to launch a presidential campaign in 2028 following the 2026 elections wrap up.

"Yes, I couldn't be truthful if I said no," the governor stated when questioned about contemplating a White House bid after the 2026 elections. "It wouldn't be the truth. And I'm not."

The governor's time in office as governor ends in the start of 2027, and he cannot run again. Yet, he noted that any decision is not imminent.

"The future will decide," he said.

Rising Profile as a Trump Critic

The California governor has come to the forefront as a high-profile critic of the former president's team, leveraging his online platforms and pushing a ballot measure that would expand the party's House seats in response to redistricting by Republicans. This move has made him a target from political opponents.

Clash on Transportation

Donald Trump's secretary of transportation, Sean Duffy, claimed that Newsom does not care about the state's residents in a Sunday interview on Fox News. Duffy revealed intentions to cut taxpayer dollars from the state and threatened revoking the authority to provide commercial driver's licenses.

"I intend to cut $160 million from California," Duffy stated, in the wake of a this week's tragic collision in California involving an undocumented trucker that caused three deaths and casualties.

Newsom's office noted that the national authorities had reauthorized the driver's employment on several occasions, which allowed him to secure a commercial driver's license under national regulations.

Duffy had before stated he was holding back $40 million from the state for ignoring language proficiency rules for commercial drivers.

Pointed Reply from the Administration

"Former D-list reality star, now transportation chief, continues to misunderstand federal law," his administration said in a previous comment responding to the funding warnings. "In the meantime, unlike this clown, we focus on reality: The state's commercial driver's license holders had a death rate nearly 40% lower than the national average. Texas – the single state with a larger number of CDL holders – has a rate almost 50% higher than the state. Facts don't lie. The federal leadership misleads."

Polling Data and Campaign Considerations

A this month's poll found that a majority of the party and almost half of voters said that the governor must consider running for the White House in 2028. After the current administration began, public support for the governor has increased to an average of a third from previous levels, while his unfavorability has decreased from an average of over 40% to 38.4%.

Some time ago, the governor remarked while on a trip several swing states that he had "uncertainty" about his intentions for 2028.

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

"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, alone, extraordinary," he said. "It's anyone's guess? I'm looking forward to who steps forward in 2028 and who rises to the occasion. And that is the issue for the American people."