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

"Yes, I would be lying if I said no," the governor remarked when questioned about giving serious thought to a presidential run after the 2026 midterms. "It wouldn't be the truth. And I'm not."

Newsom's time in office as governor wraps up in the start of 2027, and he cannot run again. However, he emphasized that any choice is a long way off.

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

Rising Profile as a Political Adversary

Newsom has stepped forward as a high-profile opponent of the Trump administration, using his digital presence and advocating for a proposition that would boost the party's representation in Congress in as a counter to GOP gerrymandering. This action has drawn criticism from political opponents.

Controversy Over Funds

The former president's transportation chief, Sean Duffy, claimed that Newsom is indifferent about the state's residents in a Sunday segment on Fox News. Duffy disclosed plans to withhold taxpayer dollars from California and suggested eliminating the power to grant trucking licenses.

"I'm about to pull a significant sum from California," Duffy declared, in the wake of a this week's tragic collision in California involving an undocumented trucker that resulted in fatalities and injured individuals.

The governor's team pointed out that the U.S. government had approved the driver's employment repeatedly, which permitted him to receive a trucking license under U.S. law.

Duffy had previously stated he was withholding $40m from California for ignoring language proficiency rules for truck drivers.

Pointed Reply from the Team

"Ex-reality TV personality, now cabinet member, still doesn't understand U.S. regulations," his administration responded in a recent comment responding to the funding warnings. "For now, in contrast to this person, we rely on data: California commercial driver's license holders had a death rate much lower than the countrywide rate. The state of Texas – the sole state with additional licensed drivers – has a rate almost 50% higher than California. Data speaks for itself. This administration is dishonest."

Polling Data and Future Prospects

A recent survey found that a majority of the party and a significant portion of the electorate believed that Newsom should run for president in 2028. Since Trump took office, public support for the governor has increased to an average of a third from approximately 30%, while his negative ratings has fallen from an average of more than 40% to under 40%.

Some time ago, Newsom stated while traveling several key regions that he had "uncertainty" about his intentions for 2028.

He noted his past difficulties, including being identified as dyslexic at the 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, extraordinary," he stated. "No one can say? I'm looking forward to who steps forward in 2028 and who answers the call. And that remains the key point for the American people."