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The California governor, a well-known Democratic figure, has indicated that he will determine whether to launch a presidential campaign in 2028 once the 2026 midterm elections wrap up.

"Yeah, it would be dishonest otherwise," Newsom remarked when asked about seriously considering a presidential run post the 2026 elections. "That wouldn't be honest. And I can't do that."

The governor's time in office as California's leader concludes in the start of 2027, and he is ineligible for re-election. However, he cautioned that any choice is still years away.

"Fate will determine that," he added.

Rising Profile as a Trump Critic

The California governor has stepped forward as a prominent adversary of the current federal leadership, using his online platforms and advocating for a ballot measure that would expand Democratic representation in Congress in response to GOP gerrymandering. This action has invited attacks from adversaries.

Clash on Transportation

Donald Trump's secretary of transportation, Sean Duffy, alleged that the governor shows no concern about Californians in a weekend appearance on Fox News. Duffy revealed intentions to withhold government money from California and warned suspending the authority to issue CDLs.

"I'm about to pull $160 million from the state," he declared, following a recent deadly accident in the state involving an non-citizen semi truck driver that resulted in three deaths and casualties.

The governor's team pointed out that the federal government had renewed the driver's employment repeatedly, which allowed him to obtain a trucking license under U.S. law.

The transportation secretary had earlier stated he was holding back $40 million from the state for ignoring English language requirements for commercial drivers.

Firm Rebuttal from the Team

"Former D-list reality star, now Secretary of Transportation, continues to misunderstand national statutes," the governor's team said in a previous comment responding to the secretary's comments. "In the meantime, in contrast to this person, we rely on data: The state's commercial driver's license holders had a death rate nearly 40% lower than the national average. Texas – the single state with additional licensed drivers – has a rate markedly elevated than California. Facts don't lie. The federal leadership misleads."

Polling Data and Political Future

A recently conducted study showed that nearly three-quarters of Democratic voters and a significant portion of the electorate indicated that the governor ought to campaign for president in the next election cycle. After the current administration began, his approval ratings has risen to an typical level of a third from around 30%, while his disapproval has fallen from an typical level of previous highs to current figures.

In previous months, Newsom remarked while visiting several battleground states that he had "no clue" about his plans for 2028.

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

"The thought that a person who had modest test scores, who continues to find reading challenging, who was typically not at the front – that such a possibility is discussed is, in and of itself, extraordinary," he said. "No one can say? I await who presents themselves in 2028 and who meets that moment. And that remains the key point for the American people."