🔗 Share this article

The California governor, a well-known member of the Democratic party, has indicated that he will decide on whether to run for president in 2028 following the 2026 congressional elections conclude.

"Yes, it would be dishonest otherwise," the governor commented when questioned about contemplating a White House bid following the 2026 ballots. "It wouldn't be the truth. And I can't do that."

The governor's tenure as California's leader concludes in the start of 2027, and he is ineligible for re-election. But, he noted that any choice is still years away.

"Fate will determine that," he added.

Rising Profile as a Political Adversary

The California governor has emerged as a prominent adversary of the Trump administration, employing his digital presence and advocating for a proposition that would increase Democratic representation in Congress in as a counter to Republican redistricting efforts. This move has made him a target from critics.

Controversy Over Funds

Donald Trump's secretary of transportation, Sean Duffy, claimed that Newsom shows no concern about the state's residents in a Sunday segment on a major news network. The secretary disclosed a strategy to withhold taxpayer dollars from the state and warned revoking the authority to grant CDLs.

"I plan to withdraw $160 million from the state," he declared, in the wake of a this week's tragic collision in the state involving an undocumented commercial driver that resulted in three deaths and four injuries.

The governor's team pointed out that the federal government had approved the driver's employment on several occasions, which allowed him to receive a CDL under federal law.

Duffy had before announced he was holding back additional funds from California for failing to implement linguistic standards for commercial drivers.

Strong Response from the Administration

"One-time television figure, now cabinet member, fails to grasp U.S. regulations," Newsom's office said in a recent statement responding to the secretary's comments. "Meanwhile, as opposed to this individual, we'll stick to the facts: The state's CDL holders had a accident mortality rate nearly 40% lower than the national average. Texas – the only state with more commercial holders – has a rate substantially higher than California. Statistics are clear. The federal leadership misleads."

Voter Sentiment and Political Future

A recent poll found that nearly three-quarters of Democratic voters and a significant portion of the electorate believed that Newsom should run for the White House in 2028. Since Trump took office, public support for the governor has increased to an typical level of about one-third from approximately 30%, while his unfavorability has dropped from an mean of previous highs to under 40%.

Some time ago, Newsom stated while traveling several key regions that he had "no clue" about his future for the next presidential election.

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

"The notion that a person who scored 960 on the SAT, who still struggles to read scripts, who was typically not at the front – that such a possibility is discussed is, in and of itself, extraordinary," he stated. "No one can say? I'm looking forward to who emerges in the next election and who meets that moment. And that is the issue for the voters."