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Gavin Newsom, a well-known Democratic figure, has disclosed that he will make a decision about whether to launch a presidential campaign in 2028 after the 2026 elections are over.

"Yeah, it would be dishonest if I denied it," the governor commented when pressed about contemplating a White House bid following the 2026 ballots. "It wouldn't be the truth. And I won't do that."

The governor's tenure as governor ends in early 2027, and term limits prevent another run. But, he emphasized that any choice is not imminent.

"The future will decide," he remarked.

Rising Profile as a Administration Opponent

Newsom has emerged as a notable opponent of the Trump administration, using his social media accounts and pushing a ballot measure that would boost the party's representation in Congress in response to redistricting by Republicans. This strategy has made him a target from adversaries.

Federal Funding Dispute

The former president's transportation chief, Sean Duffy, alleged that the governor is indifferent about the state's residents in a weekend segment on a major news network. Duffy revealed a strategy to cut government money from California and threatened revoking the authority to grant commercial driver's licenses.

"I'm about to pull $160 million from California," Duffy said, following a this week's deadly accident in the state involving an non-citizen trucker that resulted in loss of life and injured individuals.

The governor's team highlighted that the national authorities had approved the individual's authorization on several occasions, which allowed him to secure a trucking license under federal law.

The transportation secretary had previously announced he was withholding $40 million from California for failing to implement linguistic standards for commercial drivers.

Firm Rebuttal from the Team

"Former D-list reality star, now Secretary of Transportation, still doesn't understand national statutes," the governor's team responded in a last month's statement countering Duffy's threats. "In the meantime, unlike this clown, we'll stick to the facts: California commercial driver's license holders had a death rate much lower than the U.S. average. Texas – the sole state with a larger number of CDL holders – has a rate almost 50% higher than the state. Facts don't lie. The federal leadership misleads."

Polling Data and Campaign Considerations

A this month's survey showed that a majority of the party and 48% of all registered voters said that Newsom should run for the White House in 2028. Since Trump took office, his approval ratings has grown to an typical level of a third from around 30%, while his disapproval has dropped from an average of over 40% to current figures.

In previous months, Newsom commented while on a trip several battleground states that he had "no idea" about his future for 2028.

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

"The idea that a person who scored 960 on the SAT, who has ongoing difficulties with text, who was typically not at the front – that such a possibility is discussed is, by itself, extraordinary," he stated. "It's anyone's guess? I await who emerges in the next election and who meets that moment. And that remains the key point for the American people."