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Gavin Newsom, a well-known member of the Democratic party, has revealed that he will decide on whether to launch a presidential campaign in 2028 following the 2026 elections conclude.

"Yeah, I couldn't be truthful if I denied it," Newsom commented when questioned about giving serious thought to a White House bid following the 2026 midterms. "I'd just be lying. And I won't do that."

Newsom's tenure as California's leader concludes in early 2027, and term limits prevent another run. But, he cautioned that any choice is still years away.

"Fate will determine that," he remarked.

Rising Profile as a Trump Critic

He has come to the forefront as a high-profile critic of the Trump administration, leveraging his digital presence and championing a initiative that would increase Democratic congressional seats in following redistricting by Republicans. This strategy has drawn criticism from political opponents.

Federal Funding Dispute

The former president's transportation chief, Sean Duffy, claimed that the governor does not care about Californians in a recent appearance on a major news network. Duffy revealed plans to pull taxpayer dollars from California and suggested revoking the authority to grant CDLs.

"I intend to cut $160m from the state," he stated, in the wake of a this week's deadly accident in California involving an undocumented commercial driver that led to fatalities and four injuries.

Newsom's office noted that the federal government had reauthorized the worker's status repeatedly, which permitted him to obtain a trucking license under federal law.

The transportation secretary had previously announced he was holding back $40 million from California for not enforcing linguistic standards for truck drivers.

Pointed Reply from the Team

"Ex-reality TV personality, now cabinet member, fails to grasp national statutes," Newsom's office retorted in a last month's release countering Duffy's threats. "For now, as opposed to this individual, we'll stick to the facts: California commercial driver's license holders had a accident mortality rate significantly lower than the countrywide rate. Texas – the sole state with a larger number of CDL holders – has a rate almost 50% higher than California. Statistics are clear. This administration is dishonest."

Polling Data and Future Prospects

A this month's study found that 72% of Democrats and almost half of voters believed that Newsom should run for the White House in 2028. In recent years, his approval ratings has grown to an typical level of 33.5% from around 30%, while his unfavorability has dropped from an typical level of over 40% to 38.4%.

In previous months, the governor stated while on a trip several battleground states that he had "no clue" about his plans for 2028.

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

"The thought that a person who scored 960 on the SAT, who continues to find reading challenging, who was often seated at the back – that such a possibility is discussed is, by itself, remarkable," he stated. "It's anyone's guess? I'm looking forward to who emerges in the next election and who meets that moment. And that's the question for the U.S. citizens."