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Gavin Newsom, a leading Democratic figure, has revealed that he plans to determine whether to launch a presidential campaign in 2028 after the 2026 elections are over.

"Yes, I would be lying if I said no," Newsom stated when pressed about giving serious thought to a presidential run after the 2026 midterms. "I'd just be lying. And I'm not."

The governor's current term as governor concludes in early 2027, and he cannot run again. Yet, he cautioned that any determination is not imminent.

"Fate will determine that," he said.

Growing Prominence as a Administration Opponent

The California governor has stepped forward as a notable opponent of the former president's team, using his digital presence and pushing a initiative that would boost Democratic representation in Congress in response to Republican redistricting efforts. This move has made him a target from political opponents.

Clash on Transportation

Donald Trump's transportation chief, Sean Duffy, alleged that Newsom does not care about the state's residents in a weekend appearance on a major news network. Duffy disclosed a strategy to cut taxpayer dollars from the state and warned revoking the authority to provide trucking licenses.

"I'm about to pull $160 million from California," he said, in the wake of a recently reported tragic collision in California involving an non-citizen trucker that led to loss of life and casualties.

Newsom's office highlighted that the federal government had renewed the worker's status repeatedly, which permitted him to receive a trucking license under federal law.

Duffy had earlier stated he was holding back $40m from California for not enforcing language proficiency rules for commercial drivers.

Pointed Reply from the Administration

"One-time television figure, now cabinet member, continues to misunderstand federal law," Newsom's office retorted in a recent comment responding to Duffy's threats. "Meanwhile, in contrast to this person, we focus on reality: The state's CDL holders had a death rate much lower than the national average. The state of Texas – the only state with more commercial holders – has a rate markedly elevated than the state. Facts don't lie. The Trump administration does."

Public Opinion and Campaign Considerations

A recently conducted survey found that 72% of Democrats and almost half of voters indicated that Newsom ought to campaign for the White House in 2028. Since Trump took office, Newsom's favorability has increased to an average of a third from around 30%, while his disapproval has dropped from an typical level of previous highs to current figures.

In previous months, the governor stated while visiting several battleground states that he had "no idea" about his plans for the next presidential election.

He mentioned his past difficulties, including being diagnosed with dyslexia at the early childhood.

"The thought that a individual who had modest test scores, who continues to find reading challenging, who was typically not at the front – the fact that this is even suggested is, by itself, amazing," he stated. "No one can say? I am eager to see who steps forward in the next election and who rises to the occasion. And that is the issue for the U.S. citizens."