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Gavin Newsom, a well-known Democratic figure, has indicated that he plans to decide on whether to seek the White House in 2028 once the 2026 congressional elections wrap up.

"Yes, I couldn't be truthful otherwise," the governor stated when questioned about contemplating a presidential run post the 2026 midterms. "That wouldn't be honest. And I'm not."

The governor's current term as governor ends in early 2027, and he is ineligible for re-election. But, he emphasized that any choice is a long way off.

"The future will decide," he added.

Growing Prominence as a Administration Opponent

The California governor has come to the forefront as a prominent critic of the Trump administration, leveraging his digital presence and advocating for a initiative that would increase Democratic House seats in response to GOP gerrymandering. This move has made him a target from political opponents.

Controversy Over Funds

Donald Trump's transportation chief, Sean Duffy, accused that the governor is indifferent about the state's residents in a Sunday segment on Fox News. Duffy disclosed plans to cut government money from California and warned suspending the state's ability to grant commercial driver's licenses.

"I'm about to pull $160 million from California," he stated, after a recent fatal crash in the state involving an non-citizen trucker that resulted in loss of life and casualties.

Newsom's office pointed out that the national authorities had renewed the driver's employment repeatedly, which enabled him to receive a trucking license under U.S. law.

The transportation secretary had previously announced he was blocking $40 million from California for ignoring linguistic standards for truck drivers.

Strong Response from the Administration

"One-time television figure, now Secretary of Transportation, still doesn't understand federal law," his administration responded in a last month's comment responding to Duffy's threats. "For now, as opposed to this individual, we rely on data: The state's commercial driver's license holders had a death rate significantly lower than the U.S. average. The state of Texas – the only state with additional licensed drivers – has a rate markedly elevated than the state. Statistics are clear. The Trump administration does."

Public Opinion and Campaign Considerations

A recently conducted poll revealed that nearly three-quarters of Democratic voters and a significant portion of the electorate believed that the governor should run for president in 2028. After the current administration began, public support for the governor has risen to an average of about one-third from previous levels, while his unfavorability has decreased from an typical level of more than 40% to current figures.

In previous months, the governor commented while traveling several swing states that he had "uncertainty" about his future for 2028.

He mentioned his personal struggles, including being diagnosed with dyslexia at the early childhood.

"The thought that a guy who scored 960 on the SAT, who still struggles to read scripts, who was typically not at the front – the idea that you would even throw that out is, in and of itself, remarkable," he commented. "No one can say? I am eager to see who steps forward in 2028 and who answers the call. And that remains the key point for the U.S. citizens."