🔗 Share this article

The California governor, a leading member of the Democratic party, has indicated that he will decide on whether to seek the White House in 2028 once the 2026 elections conclude.

"Yeah, I couldn't be truthful otherwise," Newsom remarked when questioned about giving serious thought to a presidential run post the 2026 elections. "That wouldn't be honest. And I won't do that."

Newsom's tenure as governor wraps up in the start of 2027, and he cannot run again. Yet, he emphasized that any choice is still years away.

"The future will decide," he added.

Rising Profile as a Trump Critic

Newsom has come to the forefront as a prominent opponent of the current federal leadership, employing his social media accounts and advocating for a initiative that would expand Democratic representation in Congress in response to GOP gerrymandering. This strategy has made him a target from critics.

Controversy Over Funds

The former president's secretary of transportation, Sean Duffy, alleged that the governor shows no concern about the state's residents in a weekend segment on a major news network. The secretary disclosed plans to cut government money from California and warned suspending the authority to provide trucking licenses.

"I intend to cut $160m from the state," he said, following a this week's deadly accident in the state involving an non-citizen trucker that resulted in loss of life and four injuries.

Newsom's office noted that the federal government had renewed the driver's employment repeatedly, which enabled him to obtain a trucking license under national regulations.

Duffy had earlier indicated he was blocking $40 million from California for not enforcing linguistic standards for commercial drivers.

Pointed Reply from the Administration

"Ex-reality TV personality, now Secretary of Transportation, still doesn't understand national statutes," Newsom's office responded in a recent comment responding to the secretary's comments. "In the meantime, in contrast to this person, we focus on reality: The state's commercial driver's license holders had a death rate much lower than the national average. The state of Texas – the sole state with more commercial holders – has a rate almost 50% higher than the state. Statistics are clear. The federal leadership misleads."

Voter Sentiment and Campaign Considerations

A recent survey found that a majority of the party and 48% of all registered voters said that Newsom must consider running for the White House in 2028. After the current administration began, his approval ratings has increased to an average of 33.5% from approximately 30%, while his negative ratings has dropped from an mean of over 40% to 38.4%.

In previous months, Newsom commented while traveling several key regions that he had "uncertainty" about his intentions for 2028.

He also referenced his past difficulties, including being diagnosed with dyslexia at the early childhood.

"The thought that a person who had modest test scores, who continues to find reading challenging, who was typically not at the front – the fact that this is even suggested is, by itself, extraordinary," he stated. "It's anyone's guess? I am eager to see who steps forward in the next election and who answers the call. And that's the question for the voters."