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The California governor, a well-known Democratic figure, has indicated that he intends to decide on whether to run for president in 2028 following the 2026 midterm elections are over.

"Yes, I would be lying otherwise," the governor stated when pressed about seriously considering a campaign for president after the 2026 midterms. "I'd just be lying. And I'm not."

The governor's current term as California's leader wraps up in January 2027, and he cannot run again. Yet, he noted that any choice is still years away.

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

Growing Prominence as a Administration Opponent

Newsom has emerged as a prominent critic of the Trump administration, leveraging his online platforms and championing a initiative that would boost the party's representation in Congress in following redistricting by Republicans. This strategy has invited attacks from political opponents.

Federal Funding Dispute

The former president's secretary of transportation, Sean Duffy, claimed that the governor is indifferent about Californians in a recent appearance on a major news network. The secretary disclosed plans to cut government money from the state and threatened eliminating the authority to provide commercial driver's licenses.

"I plan to withdraw $160 million from the state," he declared, after a this week's fatal crash in California involving an non-citizen commercial driver that caused fatalities and casualties.

Newsom's office pointed out that the national authorities had approved the individual's authorization multiple times, which permitted him to obtain a CDL under national regulations.

The transportation secretary had before indicated he was withholding additional funds from California for not enforcing English language requirements for CDL holders.

Firm Rebuttal from the Governor's Office

"One-time television figure, now cabinet member, still doesn't understand U.S. regulations," his administration said in a last month's statement responding to Duffy's threats. "In the meantime, unlike this clown, 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. The state of Texas – the sole state with additional licensed drivers – has a rate substantially higher than the state. Statistics are clear. The Trump administration does."

Polling Data and Political Future

A this month's poll showed that a majority of the party and a significant portion of the electorate believed that the governor should run for the White House in 2028. After the current administration began, public support for the governor has grown to an average of a third from around 30%, while his disapproval has decreased from an mean of more than 40% to under 40%.

In previous months, the governor commented while traveling several battleground states that he had "no idea" about his plans for the next presidential election.

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

"The notion that a individual who got 960 on his SAT, who continues to find reading challenging, who was always in the back of the classroom – the fact that this is even suggested is, by itself, extraordinary," he said. "It's anyone's guess? I am eager to see who presents themselves in the next election and who answers the call. And that remains the key point for the voters."