The California governor, a well-known Democratic figure, has disclosed that he intends to determine whether to run for president in 2028 after the 2026 congressional elections are over.
"Absolutely, I would be lying if I denied it," the governor commented when pressed about giving serious thought to a presidential run following the 2026 elections. "It wouldn't be the truth. And I can't do that."
The governor's current term as California's leader wraps up in the start of 2027, and term limits prevent another run. But, he cautioned that any decision is still years away.
"The future will decide," he remarked.
Rising Profile as a Political Adversary
He has emerged as a high-profile opponent of the Trump administration, leveraging his online platforms and advocating for a ballot measure that would increase Democratic House seats in response to redistricting by Republicans. This strategy has made him a target from adversaries.
Controversy Over Funds
Donald Trump's secretary of transportation, Sean Duffy, alleged that Newsom shows no concern about the state's residents in a Sunday segment on Fox News. The secretary revealed a strategy to pull taxpayer dollars from the state and warned eliminating the power to issue CDLs.
"I intend to cut a significant sum from California," he declared, following a recent fatal crash in the state involving an undocumented commercial driver that caused loss of life and injured individuals.
The governor's team highlighted that the federal government had reauthorized the worker's status multiple times, which permitted him to obtain a CDL under federal law.
Duffy had earlier stated he was blocking additional funds from the state for failing to implement language proficiency rules for commercial drivers.
Firm Rebuttal from the Team
"Former D-list reality star, now transportation chief, continues to misunderstand federal law," the governor's team responded in a recent statement countering the secretary's comments. "In the meantime, as opposed to this individual, we rely on data: The state's commercial driver's license holders had a fatal crash rate nearly 40% lower than the U.S. average. The state of Texas – the only state with additional licensed drivers – has a rate markedly elevated than the state. Statistics are clear. This administration is dishonest."
Voter Sentiment and Political Future
A recently conducted survey showed that a majority of the party and 48% of all registered voters said that the governor ought to campaign for the White House in the next election cycle. Since Trump took office, his approval ratings has grown to an average of a third from approximately 30%, while his negative ratings has decreased from an typical level of over 40% to 38.4%.
Some time ago, the governor commented while traveling several key regions that he had "no idea" about his future for the next presidential election.
He also referenced his past difficulties, including being diagnosed with dyslexia at the early childhood.
"The thought that a guy who got 960 on his SAT, who still struggles to read scripts, who was often seated at the back – that such a possibility is discussed is, by itself, amazing," he said. "No one can say? I am eager to see who emerges in 2028 and who meets that moment. And that is the issue for the voters."
