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The California governor, a prominent member of the Democratic party, has disclosed that he plans to decide on whether to seek the White House in 2028 after the 2026 congressional elections wrap up.

"Yeah, I would be lying if I said no," the governor commented when questioned about seriously considering a White House bid following the 2026 ballots. "That wouldn't be honest. And I'm not."

The governor's time in office as California's leader concludes in January 2027, and term limits prevent another run. But, he noted that any decision is still years away.

"It's up to destiny," he added.

Rising Profile as a Trump Critic

He has stepped forward as a prominent opponent of the former president's team, using his online platforms and championing a initiative that would expand Democratic representation in Congress in following redistricting by Republicans. This move has made him a target from political opponents.

Controversy Over Funds

The former president's transportation chief, Sean Duffy, accused that Newsom does not care about the state's residents in a Sunday interview on a major news network. Duffy announced plans to withhold taxpayer dollars from the state and threatened revoking the power to grant trucking licenses.

"I'm about to pull $160 million from California," Duffy stated, following a recently reported fatal crash in the state involving an undocumented commercial driver that caused three deaths and four injuries.

His administration pointed out that the national authorities had renewed the driver's employment on several occasions, which allowed him to secure a CDL under U.S. law.

Duffy had before announced he was holding back $40m from the state for not enforcing English language requirements for CDL holders.

Firm Rebuttal from the Governor's Office

"Ex-reality TV personality, now Secretary of Transportation, continues to misunderstand national statutes," the governor's team retorted in a last month's statement addressing the funding warnings. "For now, unlike this clown, we'll stick to the facts: California commercial driver's license holders had a fatal crash rate much lower than the U.S. average. Texas – the only state with additional licensed drivers – has a rate substantially higher than the state. Data speaks for itself. The Trump administration does."

Polling Data and Campaign Considerations

A this month's survey showed that 72% of Democrats and 48% of all registered voters said that Newsom should run for the White House in 2028. In recent years, Newsom's favorability has risen to an average of a third from approximately 30%, while his negative ratings has fallen from an average of over 40% to current figures.

Some time ago, the governor remarked while traveling several swing states that he had "no clue" about his plans for the next presidential election.

He also referenced his personal struggles, including being identified as dyslexic at the age of five.

"The idea that a individual who scored 960 on the 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, amazing," he stated. "It's anyone's guess? I await who presents themselves in 2028 and who rises to the occasion. And that is the issue for the American people."