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Gavin Newsom, a prominent Democratic figure, has indicated that he intends to determine whether to run for president in 2028 following the 2026 elections are over.

"Absolutely, I couldn't be truthful if I denied it," Newsom commented when pressed about giving serious thought to a presidential run post the 2026 midterms. "It wouldn't be the truth. And I'm not."

Newsom's tenure as California's leader concludes in January 2027, and he cannot run again. But, he emphasized that any choice is a long way off.

"The future will decide," he said.

Growing Prominence as a Political Adversary

Newsom has emerged as a prominent adversary of the former president's team, leveraging his digital presence and pushing a ballot measure that would boost Democratic representation in Congress in as a counter to redistricting by Republicans. This strategy has made him a target from critics.

Federal Funding Dispute

The former president's transportation chief, Sean Duffy, alleged that the governor is indifferent about Californians in a recent interview on Fox News. The secretary announced intentions to pull taxpayer dollars from California and suggested revoking the state's ability to grant trucking licenses.

"I'm about to pull $160 million from California," Duffy said, in the wake of a recent deadly accident in the state involving an unauthorized trucker that resulted in three deaths and casualties.

The governor's team pointed out that the federal government had renewed the worker's status multiple times, which permitted him to obtain a CDL under national regulations.

Duffy had previously stated he was withholding $40 million from the state for ignoring English language requirements for CDL holders.

Strong Response from the Governor's Office

"One-time television figure, now cabinet member, fails to grasp federal law," his administration retorted in a last month's comment addressing the secretary's comments. "For now, as opposed to this individual, we rely on data: The state's commercial driver's license holders had a death rate nearly 40% lower than the U.S. average. The state of Texas – the only state with a larger number of CDL holders – has a rate markedly elevated than the state. Data speaks for itself. The Trump administration does."

Polling Data and Political Future

A recently conducted poll revealed that nearly three-quarters of Democratic voters and a significant portion of the electorate believed that the governor ought to campaign for the White House in the next election cycle. After the current administration began, public support for the governor has grown to an typical level of 33.5% from around 30%, while his negative ratings has dropped from an mean of more than 40% to current figures.

In previous months, Newsom remarked while visiting several battleground states that he had "no clue" about his future for 2028.

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

"The notion that a person who had modest test scores, who has ongoing difficulties with text, who was often seated at the back – that such a possibility is discussed is, alone, extraordinary," he stated. "Who the hell knows? I await who presents themselves in 2028 and who rises to the occasion. And that's the question for the U.S. citizens."