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The California governor, a leading member of the Democratic party, has revealed that he will decide on whether to run for president in 2028 following the 2026 elections are over.

"Yes, I couldn't be truthful if I said no," Newsom commented when questioned about giving serious thought to a White House bid following the 2026 ballots. "That wouldn't be honest. And I can't do that."

Newsom's current term as governor wraps up in January 2027, and he cannot run again. However, he emphasized that any choice is a long way off.

"Fate will determine that," he remarked.

Rising Profile as a Administration Opponent

Newsom has come to the forefront as a notable critic of the current federal leadership, leveraging his online platforms and advocating for a ballot measure that would expand the party's House seats in following redistricting by Republicans. This move has drawn criticism from critics.

Controversy Over Funds

The former president's secretary of transportation, Sean Duffy, claimed that the governor shows no concern about the state's residents in a weekend interview on a major news network. Duffy disclosed a strategy to cut federal funds from the state and suggested eliminating the state's ability to grant CDLs.

"I plan to withdraw $160m from California," Duffy said, following a recent deadly accident in the state involving an unauthorized trucker that resulted in loss of life and four injuries.

His administration noted that the federal government had approved the worker's status multiple times, which enabled him to obtain a CDL under national regulations.

Duffy had before indicated he was holding back $40m from California for failing to implement linguistic standards for truck drivers.

Strong Response from the Team

"Ex-reality TV personality, now cabinet member, still doesn't understand national statutes," Newsom's office said in a previous comment responding to the funding warnings. "In the meantime, in contrast to this person, we rely on data: California CDL holders had a accident mortality rate much lower than the national average. The state of Texas – the single state with a larger number of CDL holders – has a rate substantially higher than California. Statistics are clear. The federal leadership misleads."

Polling Data and Future Prospects

A this month's survey found that 72% of Democrats and almost half of voters believed that Newsom ought to campaign for the White House in 2028. After the current administration began, his approval ratings has grown to an typical level of a third from around 30%, while his unfavorability has decreased from an average of over 40% to 38.4%.

Earlier this year, the governor commented while visiting several key regions that he had "no clue" about his plans for 2028.

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

"The idea that a guy who scored 960 on the SAT, who continues to find reading challenging, who was always in the back of the classroom – the fact that this is even suggested is, alone, remarkable," he stated. "Who the hell knows? I am eager to see who emerges in the next election and who meets that moment. And that is the issue for the voters."