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The California governor, a well-known Democratic figure, has indicated that he will decide on whether to seek the White House in 2028 once the 2026 midterm elections wrap up.

"Yeah, I would be lying if I said no," the governor commented when questioned about contemplating a campaign for president post the 2026 ballots. "It wouldn't be the truth. And I'm not."

The governor's tenure as California's leader wraps up in early 2027, and term limits prevent another run. However, he cautioned that any determination is not imminent.

"Fate will determine that," he added.

Rising Profile as a Political Adversary

Newsom has emerged as a notable critic of the former president's team, using his online platforms and pushing a initiative that would boost the party's representation in Congress in response to Republican redistricting efforts. This strategy has invited attacks from critics.

Controversy Over Funds

Donald Trump's transportation chief, Sean Duffy, accused that Newsom does not care about the state's residents in a recent interview on Fox News. Duffy disclosed intentions to pull government money from California and threatened eliminating the authority to provide trucking licenses.

"I intend to cut $160m from California," he said, following a recent tragic collision in California involving an unauthorized commercial driver that led to loss of life and casualties.

The governor's team highlighted that the national authorities had reauthorized the driver's employment multiple times, which enabled him to receive a CDL under federal law.

Duffy had before announced he was blocking $40 million from the state for ignoring language proficiency rules for commercial drivers.

Firm Rebuttal from the Team

"Former D-list reality star, now cabinet member, fails to grasp federal law," Newsom's office responded in a previous comment countering Duffy's threats. "For now, unlike this clown, we rely on data: The state's truck drivers had a accident mortality rate significantly lower than the countrywide rate. Texas – the single state with a larger number of CDL holders – has a rate substantially higher than California. Facts don't lie. The federal leadership misleads."

Public Opinion and Political Future

A recently conducted study found that nearly three-quarters of Democratic voters and almost half of voters indicated that Newsom ought to campaign for the White House in 2028. Since Trump took office, public support for the governor has increased to an average of a third from around 30%, while his negative ratings has fallen from an typical level of previous highs to 38.4%.

Earlier this year, Newsom remarked while on a trip several battleground states that he had "no idea" about his plans for the next presidential election.

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

"The notion that a individual who had modest test scores, who still struggles to read scripts, who was always in the back of the classroom – the fact that this is even suggested is, in and of itself, extraordinary," he commented. "Who the hell knows? I'm looking forward to who steps forward in 2028 and who meets that moment. And that remains the key point for the U.S. citizens."