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Gavin Newsom, a prominent member of the Democratic party, has revealed that he plans to decide on whether to seek the White House in 2028 once the 2026 congressional elections conclude.

"Yeah, I couldn't be truthful if I said no," the governor commented when asked about giving serious thought to a campaign for president post the 2026 ballots. "I'd just be lying. And I'm not."

The governor's current term as California's leader wraps up in the start of 2027, and term limits prevent another run. But, he emphasized that any choice is a long way off.

"The future will decide," he added.

Increased Visibility as a Trump Critic

The California governor has come to the forefront as a prominent critic of the Trump administration, employing his digital presence and pushing a proposition that would boost the party's House seats in following redistricting by Republicans. This move has drawn criticism from adversaries.

Federal Funding Dispute

Donald Trump's transportation chief, Sean Duffy, alleged that Newsom shows no concern about the state's residents in a Sunday segment on Fox News. The secretary revealed a strategy to pull government money from California and warned revoking the authority to issue CDLs.

"I plan to withdraw $160 million from California," he said, in the wake of a this week's deadly accident in California involving an undocumented trucker that caused loss of life and casualties.

The governor's team pointed out that the national authorities had renewed the driver's employment multiple times, which enabled him to receive a trucking license under national regulations.

The transportation secretary had previously stated he was holding back additional funds from California for failing to implement language proficiency rules for truck drivers.

Pointed Reply from the Governor's Office

"One-time television figure, now transportation chief, still doesn't understand U.S. regulations," Newsom's office retorted in a previous release responding to the secretary's comments. "For now, unlike this clown, we focus on reality: The state's commercial driver's license holders had a death rate nearly 40% lower than the U.S. average. Texas – the sole state with more commercial holders – has a rate markedly elevated than California. Statistics are clear. This administration is dishonest."

Public Opinion and Campaign Considerations

A this month's poll showed that 72% of Democrats and a significant portion of the electorate indicated that the governor should run for the White House in the next election cycle. Since Trump took office, his approval ratings has risen to an mean of 33.5% from approximately 30%, while his negative ratings has decreased from an average of over 40% to current figures.

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

He noted his earlier challenges, including being identified as dyslexic at the age of five.

"The notion that a guy who scored 960 on the SAT, who has ongoing difficulties with text, who was always in the back of the classroom – the fact that this is even suggested is, by itself, extraordinary," he stated. "No one can say? I am eager to see who emerges in the next election and who rises to the occasion. And that's the question for the voters."