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The California governor, a leading Democratic figure, has indicated that he intends to make a decision about whether to run for president in 2028 after the 2026 congressional elections are over.

"Yes, I couldn't be truthful if I said no," Newsom remarked when questioned about contemplating a campaign for president post the 2026 elections. "It wouldn't be the truth. And I won't do that."

Newsom's current term as California's leader wraps up in January 2027, and he is ineligible for re-election. Yet, he emphasized that any choice is still years away.

"The future will decide," he said.

Increased Visibility as a Trump Critic

Newsom has stepped forward as a high-profile critic of the Trump administration, leveraging his online platforms and championing a proposition that would boost Democratic representation in Congress in following GOP gerrymandering. This action has invited attacks from political opponents.

Controversy Over Funds

The former president's transportation chief, Sean Duffy, alleged that the governor does not care about Californians in a weekend appearance on a major news network. Duffy disclosed intentions to cut government money from the state and warned suspending the power to issue trucking licenses.

"I'm about to pull $160 million from the state," he declared, in the wake of a this week's tragic collision in California involving an unauthorized commercial driver that resulted in loss of life and injured individuals.

Newsom's office pointed out that the U.S. government had approved the individual's authorization multiple times, which enabled him to obtain a commercial driver's license under national regulations.

Duffy had before indicated he was blocking additional funds from California for failing to implement linguistic standards for CDL holders.

Firm Rebuttal from the Team

"One-time television figure, now cabinet member, fails to grasp national statutes," Newsom's office responded in a recent comment responding to Duffy's threats. "Meanwhile, in contrast to this person, we focus on reality: The state's commercial driver's license holders had a fatal crash rate much lower than the countrywide rate. Texas – the only state with additional licensed drivers – has a rate markedly elevated than California. Data speaks for itself. The Trump administration does."

Public Opinion and Future Prospects

A recently conducted study revealed that nearly three-quarters of Democratic voters and almost half of voters said that the governor ought to campaign for the White House in 2028. In recent years, public support for the governor has increased to an typical level of a third from approximately 30%, while his unfavorability has dropped from an typical level of previous highs to current figures.

In previous months, Newsom stated while visiting several battleground states that he had "no idea" about his plans for the next presidential election.

He also referenced his past difficulties, including being diagnosed with dyslexia at the early childhood.

"The thought that a person who had modest test scores, who still struggles to read scripts, who was typically not at the front – the idea that you would even throw that out is, alone, remarkable," he commented. "It's anyone's guess? I'm looking forward to who steps forward in the next election and who rises to the occasion. And that is the issue for the American people."