🔗 Share this article

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

"Absolutely, I couldn't be truthful if I denied it," Newsom commented when pressed about contemplating a campaign for president post the 2026 ballots. "I'd just be lying. And I'm not."

The governor's time in office as California's leader wraps up in early 2027, and he is ineligible for re-election. Yet, he emphasized that any choice is not imminent.

"The future will decide," he remarked.

Rising Profile as a Trump Critic

Newsom has stepped forward as a prominent critic of the Trump administration, employing his social media accounts and advocating for a initiative that would increase Democratic congressional seats in following Republican redistricting efforts. This strategy has invited attacks from adversaries.

Clash on Transportation

Donald Trump's secretary of transportation, Sean Duffy, alleged that the governor shows no concern about the state's residents in a weekend appearance on Fox News. The secretary revealed a strategy to withhold federal funds from California and suggested revoking the authority to grant commercial driver's licenses.

"I plan to withdraw $160 million from California," he declared, following a recently reported fatal crash in California involving an non-citizen trucker that led to three deaths and casualties.

The governor's team pointed out that the federal government had approved the individual's authorization repeatedly, which allowed him to obtain a CDL under national regulations.

Duffy had before indicated he was blocking additional funds from the state for not enforcing linguistic standards for truck drivers.

Firm Rebuttal from the Governor's Office

"Former D-list reality star, now transportation chief, fails to grasp U.S. regulations," the governor's team said in a previous statement countering Duffy's threats. "Meanwhile, as opposed to this individual, we'll stick to the facts: California CDL holders had a death rate much lower than the countrywide rate. Texas – the only state with more commercial holders – has a rate almost 50% higher than the state. Facts don't lie. The federal leadership misleads."

Voter Sentiment and Campaign Considerations

A recent study revealed that 72% of Democrats and 48% of all registered voters believed that Newsom ought to campaign for the White House in 2028. In recent years, his approval ratings has risen to an mean of about one-third from previous levels, while his negative ratings has dropped from an typical level of more than 40% to under 40%.

Earlier this year, Newsom remarked while on a trip several swing states that he had "uncertainty" about his intentions for the next presidential election.

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

"The notion that a individual 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, remarkable," he stated. "Who the hell knows? I'm looking forward to who emerges in 2028 and who rises to the occasion. And that is the issue for the voters."