🔗 Share this article

Gavin Newsom, a well-known member of the Democratic party, has disclosed that he will make a decision about whether to seek the White House in 2028 once the 2026 elections wrap up.

"Yes, it would be dishonest otherwise," Newsom stated when asked about giving serious thought to a presidential run after the 2026 midterms. "That wouldn't be honest. And I won't do that."

Newsom's current term as governor ends in January 2027, and term limits prevent another run. But, he noted that any choice is not imminent.

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

Rising Profile as a Political Adversary

The California governor has emerged as a notable opponent of the Trump administration, employing his social media accounts and championing a initiative that would increase the party's congressional seats in as a counter to redistricting by Republicans. This action has made him a target from political opponents.

Controversy Over Funds

Donald Trump's transportation chief, Sean Duffy, claimed that Newsom is indifferent about the state's residents in a recent interview on Fox News. The secretary announced plans to withhold government money from California and threatened eliminating the state's ability to grant trucking licenses.

"I plan to withdraw $160m from the state," Duffy declared, after a recent fatal crash in the state involving an undocumented commercial driver that resulted in three deaths and injured individuals.

His administration highlighted that the federal government had renewed the worker's status on several occasions, which allowed him to secure a CDL under U.S. law.

The transportation secretary had previously stated he was blocking $40 million from California for ignoring language proficiency rules for CDL holders.

Firm Rebuttal from the Governor's Office

"One-time television figure, now cabinet member, continues to misunderstand federal law," his administration responded in a previous comment responding to the funding warnings. "Meanwhile, unlike this clown, we focus on reality: The state's CDL holders had a fatal crash rate much lower than the U.S. average. The state of Texas – the sole state with additional licensed drivers – has a rate almost 50% higher than California. Statistics are clear. The Trump administration does."

Voter Sentiment and Future Prospects

A recent poll showed that a majority of the party and a significant portion of the electorate indicated that the governor must consider running for president in the next election cycle. Since Trump took office, public support for the governor has increased to an typical level of 33.5% from previous levels, while his unfavorability has decreased from an mean of over 40% to 38.4%.

Some time ago, the governor commented while on a trip several swing states that he had "no idea" about his future for the next presidential election.

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

"The thought that a person who scored 960 on the SAT, who has ongoing difficulties with text, who was often seated at the back – the fact that this is even suggested is, alone, extraordinary," he commented. "No one can say? I await who presents themselves in 2028 and who rises to the occasion. And that is the issue for the U.S. citizens."