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The California governor, a leading member of the Democratic party, has indicated that he intends to determine whether to launch a presidential campaign in 2028 after the 2026 midterm elections are over.

"Absolutely, I couldn't be truthful if I said no," Newsom commented when questioned about contemplating a campaign for president post the 2026 elections. "I'd just be lying. And I can't do that."

Newsom's current term as governor wraps up in January 2027, and he cannot run again. But, he emphasized that any choice is still years away.

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

Growing Prominence as a Administration Opponent

The California governor has come to the forefront as a notable critic of the former president's team, using his online platforms and championing a ballot measure that would boost the party's congressional seats in following GOP gerrymandering. This move has drawn criticism from critics.

Controversy Over Funds

The former president's transportation chief, Sean Duffy, claimed that the governor does not care about Californians in a recent segment on Fox News. Duffy revealed intentions to pull government money from the state and suggested suspending the state's ability to grant commercial driver's licenses.

"I plan to withdraw $160m from the state," he stated, following a recently reported fatal crash in California involving an undocumented trucker that led to fatalities and injured individuals.

Newsom's office highlighted that the federal government had reauthorized the individual's authorization multiple times, which allowed him to receive a CDL under national regulations.

The transportation secretary had previously announced he was holding back $40m from California for failing to implement English language requirements for CDL holders.

Firm Rebuttal from the Governor's Office

"Ex-reality TV personality, now transportation chief, continues to misunderstand national statutes," his administration said in a recent statement addressing the funding warnings. "Meanwhile, in contrast to this person, we'll stick to the facts: The state's truck drivers had a fatal crash rate much lower than the national average. Texas – the sole state with more commercial holders – has a rate substantially higher than the state. Facts don't lie. The federal leadership misleads."

Public Opinion and Campaign Considerations

A recent poll found that nearly three-quarters of Democratic voters and almost half of voters said that the governor must consider running for president in 2028. After the current administration began, his approval ratings has grown to an typical level of about one-third from previous levels, while his disapproval has decreased from an mean of over 40% to 38.4%.

Some time ago, Newsom remarked while on a trip several key regions that he had "no idea" about his future for the next presidential election.

He also referenced his earlier challenges, including being found to have a learning disability at the young age of five.

"The notion that a guy who had modest test scores, who still struggles to read scripts, who was always in the back of the classroom – the idea that you would even throw that out is, in and of itself, extraordinary," he commented. "It's anyone's guess? I await who emerges in 2028 and who rises to the occasion. And that is the issue for the U.S. citizens."