🔗 Share this article

The California governor, a leading Democratic figure, has revealed that he will determine whether to seek the White House in 2028 following the 2026 midterm elections conclude.

"Yeah, I would be lying if I said no," the governor commented when asked about contemplating a campaign for president following the 2026 elections. "It wouldn't be the truth. And I'm not."

Newsom's time in office as California's leader wraps up in January 2027, and he is ineligible for re-election. But, he cautioned that any decision is still years away.

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

Growing Prominence as a Political Adversary

The California governor has emerged as a notable opponent of the Trump administration, using his digital presence and pushing a ballot measure that would expand the party's House seats in as a counter to GOP gerrymandering. This move has drawn criticism from political opponents.

Controversy Over Funds

The former president's secretary of transportation, Sean Duffy, claimed that Newsom shows no concern about Californians in a Sunday appearance on a major news network. Duffy disclosed a strategy to cut government money from the state and threatened suspending the power to provide CDLs.

"I'm about to pull $160m from the state," he said, following a recently reported fatal crash in California involving an undocumented commercial driver that caused fatalities and casualties.

His administration highlighted that the federal government had approved the driver's employment on several occasions, which allowed him to obtain a CDL under U.S. law.

The transportation secretary had previously stated he was withholding $40m from the state for ignoring linguistic standards for truck drivers.

Strong Response from the Team

"One-time television figure, now cabinet member, continues to misunderstand federal law," the governor's team retorted in a recent comment responding to Duffy's threats. "In the meantime, as opposed to this individual, we focus on reality: The state's commercial driver's license holders had a accident mortality rate significantly lower than the U.S. average. Texas – the sole state with a larger number of CDL holders – has a rate markedly elevated than California. Data speaks for itself. This administration is dishonest."

Polling Data and Campaign Considerations

A this month's poll showed that a majority of the party and a significant portion of the electorate said that Newsom must consider running for the White House in 2028. Since Trump took office, his approval ratings has risen to an mean of a third from around 30%, while his unfavorability has dropped from an typical level of over 40% to current figures.

Earlier this year, Newsom stated while on a trip several key regions that he had "no clue" about his intentions for the next presidential election.

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

"The notion that a person who got 960 on his SAT, who has ongoing difficulties with text, who was typically not at the front – that such a possibility is discussed is, alone, extraordinary," he said. "No one can say? I await who emerges in 2028 and who meets that moment. And that is the issue for the voters."