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The California governor, a well-known Democratic figure, has disclosed that he plans to decide on whether to seek the White House in 2028 following the 2026 elections wrap up.

"Yeah, it would be dishonest if I denied it," Newsom remarked when questioned about seriously considering a presidential run post the 2026 midterms. "It wouldn't be the truth. And I won't do that."

The governor's current term as California's leader wraps up in January 2027, and term limits prevent another run. Yet, he noted that any determination is not imminent.

"It's up to destiny," he remarked.

Growing Prominence as a Trump Critic

He has stepped forward as a prominent critic of the current federal leadership, employing his social media accounts and championing a initiative that would increase the party's congressional seats in as a counter to Republican redistricting efforts. This strategy has invited attacks from adversaries.

Federal Funding Dispute

Donald Trump's transportation chief, Sean Duffy, claimed that Newsom shows no concern about Californians in a weekend segment on Fox News. Duffy disclosed plans to withhold federal funds from California and suggested revoking the state's ability to provide CDLs.

"I plan to withdraw a significant sum from the state," he said, after a recent tragic collision in the state involving an non-citizen trucker that led to fatalities and casualties.

His administration highlighted that the U.S. government had approved the driver's employment on several occasions, which enabled him to secure a trucking license under U.S. law.

Duffy had earlier indicated he was blocking $40m from the state for not enforcing English language requirements for commercial drivers.

Firm Rebuttal from the Governor's Office

"Former D-list reality star, now transportation chief, continues to misunderstand U.S. regulations," the governor's team said in a last month's release responding to Duffy's threats. "In the meantime, in contrast to this person, we'll stick to the facts: California CDL holders had a fatal crash rate much lower than the countrywide rate. The state of Texas – the only state with a larger number of CDL holders – has a rate markedly elevated than the state. Statistics are clear. The Trump administration does."

Voter Sentiment and Political Future

A this month's study showed that nearly three-quarters of Democratic voters and a significant portion of the electorate said that Newsom ought to campaign for president in 2028. After the current administration began, his approval ratings has increased to an mean of a third from around 30%, while his disapproval has fallen from an typical level of more than 40% to 38.4%.

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

He mentioned his earlier challenges, including being found to have a learning disability at the early childhood.

"The idea that a person who had modest test scores, who still struggles to read scripts, who was often seated at the back – the fact that this is even suggested is, alone, extraordinary," he commented. "It's anyone's guess? I await who steps forward in the next election and who answers the call. And that's the question for the American people."