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Gavin Newsom, a well-known member of the Democratic party, has revealed that he intends to decide on whether to seek the White House in 2028 after the 2026 elections wrap up.

"Yeah, I would be lying if I denied it," Newsom remarked when pressed about contemplating a campaign for president after the 2026 elections. "That wouldn't be honest. And I'm not."

The governor's current term as California's leader ends in early 2027, and he cannot run again. But, he emphasized that any choice is a long way off.

"Fate will determine that," he added.

Growing Prominence as a Trump Critic

He has emerged as a notable critic of the current federal leadership, employing his social media accounts and advocating for a ballot measure that would boost Democratic congressional seats in as a counter to Republican redistricting efforts. This strategy has drawn criticism from political opponents.

Federal Funding Dispute

Donald Trump's transportation chief, Sean Duffy, accused that Newsom is indifferent about the state's residents in a recent segment on a major news network. The secretary announced a strategy to pull federal funds from the state and threatened eliminating the power to issue trucking licenses.

"I plan to withdraw $160m from the state," he stated, after a recently reported fatal crash in California involving an unauthorized trucker that led to fatalities and injured individuals.

His administration noted that the federal government had reauthorized the driver's employment repeatedly, which allowed him to obtain a commercial driver's license under federal law.

Duffy had before announced he was blocking $40m from California for ignoring linguistic standards for truck drivers.

Strong Response from the Governor's Office

"Former D-list reality star, now Secretary of Transportation, still doesn't understand national statutes," the governor's team retorted in a last month's statement countering the funding warnings. "In the meantime, unlike this clown, we focus on reality: The state's truck drivers had a fatal crash rate much lower than the national average. The state of Texas – the sole state with a larger number of CDL holders – has a rate substantially higher than the state. Data speaks for itself. The federal leadership misleads."

Polling Data and Political Future

A recently conducted survey found that a majority of the party and a significant portion of the electorate said that Newsom should run for president in 2028. In recent years, public support for the governor has risen to an average of a third from around 30%, while his negative ratings has fallen from an average of previous highs to 38.4%.

Some time ago, Newsom remarked while on a trip several key regions that he had "uncertainty" about his intentions for the next presidential election.

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

"The thought that a individual 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, in and of itself, extraordinary," he commented. "Who the hell knows? I am eager to see who steps forward in the next election and who answers the call. And that remains the key point for the U.S. citizens."