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Gavin Newsom, a prominent member of the Democratic party, has disclosed that he intends to make a decision about whether to seek the White House in 2028 following the 2026 midterm elections conclude.

"Yeah, I would be lying if I denied it," the governor commented when asked about giving serious thought to a White House bid after the 2026 elections. "I'd just be lying. And I can't do that."

Newsom's tenure as California's leader ends in January 2027, and he is ineligible for re-election. But, he emphasized that any decision is not imminent.

"The future will decide," he added.

Rising Profile as a Trump Critic

He has emerged as a notable opponent of the Trump administration, leveraging his online platforms and advocating for a ballot measure that would increase Democratic House seats in as a counter to Republican redistricting efforts. This action has drawn criticism from adversaries.

Federal Funding Dispute

The former president's transportation chief, Sean Duffy, alleged that Newsom does not care about Californians in a recent segment on a major news network. The secretary disclosed intentions to withhold government money from California and suggested revoking the power to provide trucking licenses.

"I intend to cut $160 million from California," Duffy said, following a recently reported deadly accident in the state involving an unauthorized commercial driver that resulted in three deaths and casualties.

Newsom's office highlighted that the federal government had reauthorized the individual's authorization multiple times, which enabled him to obtain a CDL under U.S. law.

Duffy had previously stated he was withholding $40m from California for failing to implement language proficiency rules for truck drivers.

Firm Rebuttal from the Administration

"Former D-list reality star, now Secretary of Transportation, continues to misunderstand U.S. regulations," Newsom's office retorted in a last month's release addressing the secretary's comments. "Meanwhile, as opposed to this individual, we rely on data: California truck drivers had a accident mortality rate significantly lower than the countrywide rate. Texas – the single state with more commercial holders – has a rate almost 50% higher than the state. Data speaks for itself. This administration is dishonest."

Public Opinion and Campaign Considerations

A recent study showed that nearly three-quarters of Democratic voters and 48% of all registered voters said that Newsom should run for the White House in 2028. In recent years, public support for the governor has grown to an average of about one-third from around 30%, while his unfavorability has fallen from an mean of over 40% to 38.4%.

Earlier this year, Newsom remarked while visiting several key regions that he had "uncertainty" about his intentions for the next presidential election.

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

"The thought that a individual who had modest test scores, who still struggles to read scripts, who was often seated at the back – the idea that you would even throw that out is, by itself, extraordinary," he said. "It's anyone's guess? I await who emerges in 2028 and who answers the call. And that is the issue for the voters."