🔗 Share this article

The California governor, a prominent member of the Democratic party, has indicated that he will decide on whether to seek the White House in 2028 following the 2026 midterm elections conclude.

"Yes, I couldn't be truthful if I said no," Newsom remarked when asked about contemplating a campaign for president following the 2026 ballots. "That wouldn't be honest. And I won't do that."

The governor's current term as California's leader concludes in the start of 2027, and he is ineligible for re-election. Yet, he noted that any determination is a long way off.

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

Increased Visibility as a Political Adversary

The California governor has emerged as a prominent critic of the Trump administration, employing his social media accounts and advocating for a proposition that would increase Democratic House seats in following redistricting by Republicans. This move has made him a target from critics.

Federal Funding Dispute

The former president's secretary of transportation, Sean Duffy, alleged that the governor does not care about the state's residents in a weekend segment on Fox News. Duffy announced intentions to pull taxpayer dollars from California and suggested suspending the state's ability to issue CDLs.

"I'm about to pull $160m from California," he stated, following a recently reported deadly accident in California involving an unauthorized trucker that caused fatalities and injured individuals.

Newsom's office pointed out that the federal government had approved the driver's employment multiple times, which enabled him to obtain a trucking license under national regulations.

Duffy had previously stated he was withholding $40 million from California for not enforcing English language requirements for commercial drivers.

Pointed Reply from the Administration

"Ex-reality TV personality, now transportation chief, fails to grasp national statutes," his administration retorted in a previous comment addressing the secretary's comments. "Meanwhile, unlike this clown, we focus on reality: California CDL holders had a fatal crash rate nearly 40% lower than the countrywide rate. Texas – the single state with a larger number of CDL holders – has a rate markedly elevated than California. Data speaks for itself. This administration is dishonest."

Public Opinion and Political Future

A recent survey found that nearly three-quarters of Democratic voters and a significant portion of the electorate believed that the governor should run for the White House in 2028. After the current administration began, Newsom's favorability has risen to an typical level of about one-third from around 30%, while his unfavorability has dropped from an typical level of over 40% to under 40%.

Earlier this year, the governor commented while on a trip several battleground states that he had "no clue" about his future for the next presidential election.

He noted his personal struggles, including being identified as dyslexic at the age of five.

"The thought that a individual 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, alone, extraordinary," he stated. "Who the hell knows? I'm looking forward to who steps forward in 2028 and who answers the call. And that is the issue for the U.S. citizens."