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The California governor, a prominent Democratic figure, has indicated that he intends to decide on whether to seek the White House in 2028 once the 2026 midterm elections conclude.

"Yeah, I would be lying if I denied it," Newsom remarked when asked about seriously considering a presidential run after the 2026 midterms. "It wouldn't be the truth. And I can't do that."

Newsom's current term as governor ends in January 2027, and he cannot run again. However, he noted that any determination is a long way off.

"The future will decide," he added.

Rising Profile as a Trump Critic

He has stepped forward as a high-profile adversary of the Trump administration, using his social media accounts and advocating for a proposition that would expand the party's representation in Congress in following GOP gerrymandering. This move has invited attacks from adversaries.

Federal Funding Dispute

Donald Trump's secretary of transportation, Sean Duffy, alleged that the governor is indifferent about Californians in a recent appearance on a major news network. The secretary announced plans to cut federal funds from California and suggested revoking the power to issue trucking licenses.

"I'm about to pull $160 million from the state," Duffy said, in the wake of a recently reported fatal crash in California involving an undocumented commercial driver that resulted in loss of life and casualties.

The governor's team highlighted that the U.S. government had approved the worker's status multiple times, which permitted him to secure a CDL under national regulations.

Duffy had previously stated he was holding back additional funds from California for not enforcing linguistic standards for truck drivers.

Pointed Reply 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 comment responding to the funding warnings. "In the meantime, in contrast to this person, we'll stick to the facts: The state's commercial driver's license holders had a fatal crash rate much lower than the national average. Texas – the sole state with more commercial holders – has a rate substantially higher than the state. Data speaks for itself. This administration is dishonest."

Public Opinion and Campaign Considerations

A this month's study showed that nearly three-quarters of Democratic voters and 48% of all registered voters said that the governor should run for the White House in the next election cycle. After the current administration began, public support for the governor has grown to an average of about one-third from around 30%, while his disapproval has fallen from an average of over 40% to 38.4%.

In previous months, Newsom remarked while visiting several key regions that he had "no clue" about his future for the next presidential election.

He mentioned his personal struggles, including being found to have a learning disability at the young age of five.

"The notion that a person who got 960 on his SAT, who still struggles to read scripts, who was typically not at the front – that such a possibility is discussed is, alone, remarkable," he said. "It's anyone's guess? I'm looking forward to who steps forward in the next election and who rises to the occasion. And that's the question for the U.S. citizens."