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Gavin Newsom, a well-known Democratic figure, has disclosed that he intends to decide on whether to run for president in 2028 following the 2026 midterm elections wrap up.

"Yeah, it would be dishonest otherwise," Newsom stated when pressed 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 California's leader ends in January 2027, and term limits prevent another run. Yet, he cautioned that any decision is a long way off.

"Fate will determine that," he added.

Rising Profile as a Political Adversary

He has emerged as a notable adversary of the Trump administration, employing his social media accounts and championing a ballot measure that would expand Democratic House seats in as a counter to redistricting by Republicans. This strategy has invited attacks from adversaries.

Controversy Over Funds

Donald Trump's secretary of transportation, Sean Duffy, alleged that the governor does not care about the state's residents in a weekend interview on a major news network. The secretary revealed intentions to cut federal funds from the state and suggested eliminating the state's ability to provide commercial driver's licenses.

"I intend to cut $160 million from California," Duffy declared, after a recent deadly accident in California involving an non-citizen commercial driver that led to loss of life and four injuries.

The governor's team noted that the federal government had approved the worker's status on several occasions, which allowed him to receive a commercial driver's license under federal law.

The transportation secretary had previously announced he was blocking $40m from California for failing to implement English language requirements for truck drivers.

Firm Rebuttal from the Administration

"Ex-reality TV personality, now cabinet member, continues to misunderstand U.S. regulations," Newsom's office said in a previous release countering Duffy's threats. "For now, as opposed to this individual, we'll stick to the facts: California commercial driver's license holders had a fatal crash rate much lower than the national average. Texas – the sole state with a larger number of CDL holders – has a rate substantially higher than California. Statistics are clear. The federal leadership misleads."

Voter Sentiment and Future Prospects

A this month's poll revealed that nearly three-quarters of Democratic voters and a significant portion of the electorate indicated that the governor must consider running for president in 2028. Since Trump took office, Newsom's favorability has increased to an average of 33.5% from around 30%, while his negative ratings has decreased from an mean of over 40% to under 40%.

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

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

"The thought that a person who had modest test scores, who continues to find reading challenging, who was often seated at the back – the idea that you would even throw that out is, by itself, amazing," he commented. "It's anyone's guess? I'm looking forward to who presents themselves in the next election and who rises to the occasion. And that's the question for the American people."