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The California governor, a well-known member of the Democratic party, has disclosed that he will determine whether to launch a presidential campaign in 2028 after the 2026 midterm elections are over.

"Absolutely, I would be lying otherwise," Newsom commented when pressed about giving serious thought to a campaign for president post the 2026 midterms. "That wouldn't be honest. And I won't do that."

Newsom's time in office as California's leader concludes in January 2027, and he cannot run again. But, he emphasized that any decision is a long way off.

"Fate will determine that," he said.

Rising Profile as a Administration Opponent

Newsom has stepped forward as a high-profile opponent of the former president's team, employing his social media accounts and advocating for a proposition that would increase Democratic congressional seats in following redistricting by Republicans. This move has drawn criticism from political opponents.

Federal Funding Dispute

The former president's secretary of transportation, Sean Duffy, accused that the governor is indifferent about Californians in a weekend appearance on a major news network. The secretary disclosed intentions to pull taxpayer dollars from the state and warned eliminating the power to issue commercial driver's licenses.

"I plan to withdraw $160m from California," he stated, following a this week's tragic collision in California involving an non-citizen commercial driver that caused loss of life and four injuries.

The governor's team pointed out that the federal government had renewed the driver's employment multiple times, which allowed him to obtain a CDL under national regulations.

Duffy had before stated he was holding back additional funds from the state for ignoring English language requirements for truck drivers.

Strong Response from the Governor's Office

"Former D-list reality star, now cabinet member, fails to grasp national statutes," the governor's team retorted in a recent statement addressing Duffy's threats. "In the meantime, unlike this clown, we rely on data: The state's truck drivers had a death rate nearly 40% lower than the countrywide rate. The state of Texas – the only state with more commercial holders – has a rate markedly elevated than the state. Facts don't lie. This administration is dishonest."

Polling Data and Campaign Considerations

A this month's survey revealed that a majority of the party and a significant portion of the electorate believed that Newsom ought to campaign for president in the next election cycle. In recent years, public support for the governor has grown to an mean of 33.5% from around 30%, while his negative ratings has fallen from an average of more than 40% to under 40%.

Some time ago, Newsom commented while traveling several key regions that he had "uncertainty" 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 got 960 on his SAT, who still struggles to read scripts, who was always in the back of the classroom – the idea that you would even throw that out is, by itself, remarkable," he said. "Who the hell knows? I am eager to see who steps forward in 2028 and who meets that moment. And that remains the key point for the voters."