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Gavin Newsom, a well-known member of the Democratic party, has indicated that he will determine whether to run for president in 2028 once the 2026 elections wrap up.

"Yes, I couldn't be truthful if I said no," the governor remarked when pressed about seriously considering a presidential run post the 2026 midterms. "I'd just be lying. And I'm not."

Newsom's tenure as California's leader ends in January 2027, and term limits prevent another run. But, he cautioned that any determination is still years away.

"Fate will determine that," he added.

Growing Prominence as a Political Adversary

The California governor has emerged as a prominent critic of the Trump administration, leveraging his online platforms and championing a proposition that would increase the party's congressional seats in as a counter to GOP gerrymandering. This action has made him a target from critics.

Controversy Over Funds

Donald Trump's transportation chief, Sean Duffy, alleged that the governor does not care about Californians in a recent segment on Fox News. Duffy revealed plans to cut federal funds from California and warned suspending the power to issue trucking licenses.

"I intend to cut $160m from California," he stated, after a recent tragic collision in the state involving an non-citizen semi truck driver that resulted in loss of life and injured individuals.

The governor's team noted that the U.S. government had reauthorized the driver's employment repeatedly, which enabled him to obtain a trucking license under national regulations.

Duffy had previously indicated he was holding back $40 million from the state for ignoring language proficiency rules for truck drivers.

Strong Response from the Team

"One-time television figure, now cabinet member, continues to misunderstand national statutes," the governor's team retorted in a last month's release countering the secretary's comments. "In the meantime, in contrast to this person, we focus on reality: California commercial driver's license holders had a fatal crash rate nearly 40% lower than the national average. The state of Texas – the sole state with additional licensed drivers – has a rate substantially higher than California. Facts don't lie. This administration is dishonest."

Voter Sentiment and Future Prospects

A this month's study revealed that nearly three-quarters of Democratic voters and a significant portion of the electorate indicated that Newsom must consider running for the White House in the next election cycle. In recent years, public support for the governor has increased to an mean of about one-third from approximately 30%, while his disapproval has dropped from an mean of more than 40% to 38.4%.

Some time ago, the governor remarked while on a trip several battleground states that he had "no clue" about his future for the next presidential election.

He noted his earlier challenges, including being diagnosed with dyslexia at the young age of five.

"The thought that a guy who got 960 on his SAT, who continues to find reading challenging, who was often seated at the back – the fact that this is even suggested is, alone, amazing," he commented. "It's anyone's guess? I'm looking forward to who emerges in the next election and who answers the call. And that is the issue for the voters."