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The California governor, a leading Democratic figure, has disclosed that he intends to decide on whether to seek the White House in 2028 once the 2026 congressional elections are over.

"Yes, I would be lying if I denied it," the governor commented when pressed about contemplating a presidential run post the 2026 elections. "I'd just be lying. And I can't do that."

Newsom's current term as California's leader ends in early 2027, and term limits prevent another run. But, he noted that any decision is not imminent.

"It's up to destiny," he said.

Growing Prominence as a Trump Critic

Newsom has emerged as a high-profile opponent of the former president's team, leveraging his online platforms and pushing a proposition that would boost Democratic congressional seats in response to GOP gerrymandering. This action has made him a target from political opponents.

Controversy Over Funds

Donald Trump's transportation chief, Sean Duffy, alleged that Newsom does not care about Californians in a Sunday appearance on Fox News. Duffy announced intentions to pull government money from the state and threatened suspending the state's ability to issue commercial driver's licenses.

"I intend to cut a significant sum from California," Duffy stated, after a this week's fatal crash in the state involving an unauthorized trucker that caused three deaths and injured individuals.

The governor's team noted that the national authorities had approved the driver's employment on several occasions, which allowed him to obtain a trucking license under U.S. law.

Duffy had before announced he was holding back additional funds from California for not enforcing English language requirements for CDL holders.

Pointed Reply from the Administration

"Ex-reality TV personality, now cabinet member, continues to misunderstand U.S. regulations," his administration said in a previous statement addressing Duffy's threats. "In the meantime, unlike this clown, we focus on reality: California CDL holders had a death rate nearly 40% lower than the U.S. average. Texas – the single state with more commercial holders – has a rate almost 50% higher than California. Data speaks for itself. The federal leadership misleads."

Polling Data and Future Prospects

A this month's study found that 72% of Democrats and 48% of all registered voters said that the governor ought to campaign for president in 2028. After the current administration began, Newsom's favorability has risen to an average of 33.5% from previous levels, while his negative ratings has dropped from an typical level of over 40% to under 40%.

Earlier this year, Newsom stated while visiting several battleground states that he had "no idea" about his plans for the next presidential election.

He mentioned his earlier challenges, including being diagnosed with dyslexia at the early childhood.

"The notion that a person who scored 960 on the SAT, who has ongoing difficulties with text, who was always in the back of the classroom – the idea that you would even throw that out is, alone, remarkable," 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."