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Gavin Newsom, a well-known Democratic figure, has indicated that he plans to make a decision about whether to launch a presidential campaign in 2028 following the 2026 congressional elections conclude.

"Yes, I couldn't be truthful if I said no," the governor stated when questioned about giving serious thought to a presidential run post the 2026 elections. "I'd just be lying. And I'm not."

Newsom's time in office as governor concludes in the start of 2027, and he cannot run again. Yet, he emphasized that any choice is still years away.

"Fate will determine that," he remarked.

Rising Profile as a Administration Opponent

Newsom has come to the forefront as a notable opponent of the Trump administration, using his digital presence and pushing a ballot measure that would increase Democratic representation in Congress in response to Republican redistricting efforts. This move has made him a target from critics.

Clash on Transportation

The former president's transportation chief, Sean Duffy, accused that the governor shows no concern about Californians in a weekend interview on a major news network. The secretary revealed plans to pull federal funds from California and threatened suspending the power to provide trucking licenses.

"I intend to cut $160m from the state," he said, in the wake of a recent deadly accident in California involving an unauthorized trucker that resulted in three deaths and injured individuals.

The governor's team noted that the national authorities had renewed the individual's authorization repeatedly, which allowed him to receive a CDL under U.S. law.

Duffy had earlier stated he was withholding additional funds from the state for not enforcing linguistic standards for truck drivers.

Strong Response from the Governor's Office

"Ex-reality TV personality, now Secretary of Transportation, continues to misunderstand federal law," the governor's team retorted in a last month's comment responding to the secretary's comments. "Meanwhile, unlike this clown, we'll stick to the facts: The state's CDL holders had a accident mortality rate much lower than the U.S. average. Texas – the only state with more commercial holders – has a rate almost 50% higher than California. Data speaks for itself. This administration is dishonest."

Public Opinion and Future Prospects

A recent poll showed that nearly three-quarters of Democratic voters and 48% of all registered voters indicated that Newsom should run for president in the next election cycle. After the current administration began, public support for the governor has increased to an mean of 33.5% from around 30%, while his unfavorability has dropped from an typical level of more than 40% to 38.4%.

In previous months, the governor commented while traveling several key regions that he had "no idea" about his plans for 2028.

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

"The thought that a person who had modest test scores, who still struggles to read scripts, who was typically not at the front – that such a possibility is discussed is, by itself, extraordinary," he said. "Who the hell knows? I await who emerges in 2028 and who rises to the occasion. And that remains the key point for the voters."