🔗 Share this article

Gavin Newsom, a well-known member of the Democratic party, has indicated that he intends to decide on whether to seek the White House in 2028 following the 2026 midterm elections wrap up.

"Yeah, I would be lying otherwise," Newsom commented when questioned about contemplating a presidential run after the 2026 elections. "That wouldn't be honest. And I'm not."

The governor's current term as governor ends in the start of 2027, and term limits prevent another run. But, he emphasized that any choice is a long way off.

"The future will decide," he added.

Growing Prominence as a Trump Critic

Newsom has emerged as a high-profile opponent of the Trump administration, employing his digital presence and championing a ballot measure that would increase the party's House seats in as a counter to GOP gerrymandering. This strategy has made him a target from political opponents.

Clash on Transportation

Donald Trump's secretary of transportation, Sean Duffy, alleged that Newsom is indifferent about the state's residents in a Sunday interview on Fox News. Duffy announced a strategy to withhold federal funds from the state and warned revoking the power to issue trucking licenses.

"I plan to withdraw $160m from the state," Duffy said, in the wake of a recent fatal crash in California involving an non-citizen trucker that led to fatalities and injured individuals.

His administration noted that the U.S. government had reauthorized the driver's employment on several occasions, which allowed him to receive a commercial driver's license under federal law.

The transportation secretary had previously indicated he was withholding $40m from the state for not enforcing English language requirements for truck drivers.

Pointed Reply from the Governor's Office

"One-time television figure, now transportation chief, continues to misunderstand national statutes," Newsom's office said in a previous statement addressing Duffy's threats. "For now, in contrast to this person, we focus on reality: The state's commercial driver's license holders had a fatal crash rate significantly lower than the countrywide rate. Texas – the single state with a larger number of CDL holders – has a rate markedly elevated than California. Statistics are clear. This administration is dishonest."

Polling Data and Campaign Considerations

A this month's survey revealed that nearly three-quarters of Democratic voters and a significant portion of the electorate believed that the governor ought to campaign for president in 2028. After the current administration began, Newsom's favorability has risen to an mean of about one-third from approximately 30%, while his disapproval has dropped from an average of more than 40% to current figures.

Earlier this year, Newsom stated while visiting several key regions that he had "no idea" about his intentions for the next presidential election.

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

"The thought that a guy 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, extraordinary," he stated. "It's anyone's guess? I am eager to see who emerges in the next election and who rises to the occasion. And that's the question for the voters."