🔗 Share this article

Gavin Newsom, a prominent Democratic figure, has disclosed that he intends to decide on whether to run for president in 2028 after the 2026 elections are over.

"Yeah, I would be lying if I said no," the governor remarked when asked about seriously considering a campaign for president after the 2026 midterms. "I'd just be lying. And I can't do that."

Newsom's current term as governor concludes in early 2027, and term limits prevent another run. Yet, he noted that any determination is a long way off.

"Fate will determine that," he said.

Increased Visibility as a Trump Critic

Newsom has stepped forward as a notable critic of the current federal leadership, leveraging his digital presence and championing a ballot measure that would boost Democratic representation in Congress in following redistricting by Republicans. This move has drawn criticism from adversaries.

Federal Funding Dispute

The former president's secretary of transportation, Sean Duffy, accused that the governor shows no concern about Californians in a Sunday segment on a major news network. The secretary announced intentions to pull federal funds from California and threatened eliminating the state's ability to grant commercial driver's licenses.

"I plan to withdraw a significant sum from the state," he declared, in the wake of a recent tragic collision in California involving an unauthorized commercial driver that led to fatalities and casualties.

The governor's team pointed out that the U.S. government had reauthorized the individual's authorization repeatedly, which allowed him to secure a commercial driver's license under U.S. law.

The transportation secretary had earlier indicated he was holding back $40 million from California for not enforcing English language requirements for truck drivers.

Firm Rebuttal from the Administration

"Former D-list reality star, now transportation chief, still doesn't understand U.S. regulations," his administration responded in a previous comment addressing Duffy's threats. "Meanwhile, as opposed to this individual, we focus on reality: The state's CDL holders had a death 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. Data speaks for itself. The Trump administration does."

Voter Sentiment and Campaign Considerations

A recent study showed that nearly three-quarters of Democratic voters and almost half of voters indicated that the governor ought to campaign for the White House in the next election cycle. In recent years, public support for the governor has grown to an mean of a third from previous levels, while his negative ratings has fallen from an average of more than 40% to under 40%.

In previous months, Newsom commented while traveling several battleground states that he had "no clue" about his plans for the next presidential election.

He also referenced his past difficulties, including being diagnosed with dyslexia at the young age of five.

"The thought that a person who got 960 on his SAT, who still struggles to read scripts, who was always in the back of the classroom – the idea that you would even throw that out is, alone, amazing," he said. "No one can say? I await who emerges in the next election and who meets that moment. And that is the issue for the voters."