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The California governor, a prominent Democratic figure, has disclosed that he plans to decide on whether to run for president in 2028 once the 2026 congressional elections wrap up.

"Absolutely, it would be dishonest otherwise," Newsom commented when pressed about seriously considering a presidential run following the 2026 midterms. "It wouldn't be the truth. And I can't do that."

The governor's current term as governor concludes in the start of 2027, and he is ineligible for re-election. Yet, he cautioned that any choice is a long way off.

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

Growing Prominence as a Trump Critic

He has emerged as a notable opponent of the current federal leadership, using his digital presence and championing a proposition that would expand Democratic House seats in response to Republican redistricting efforts. This action has made him a target from critics.

Clash on Transportation

Donald Trump's transportation chief, Sean Duffy, claimed that the governor does not care about the state's residents in a recent appearance on Fox News. The secretary revealed plans to withhold government money from the state and suggested eliminating the power to issue CDLs.

"I plan to withdraw $160m from the state," he declared, in the wake of a this week's tragic collision in California involving an unauthorized semi truck driver that led to three deaths and four injuries.

Newsom's office highlighted that the federal government had approved the worker's status repeatedly, which enabled him to secure a CDL under federal law.

The transportation secretary had previously indicated he was blocking additional funds from the state for not enforcing language proficiency rules for CDL holders.

Strong Response from the Governor's Office

"Ex-reality TV personality, now transportation chief, continues to misunderstand national statutes," Newsom's office said in a recent comment responding to the secretary's comments. "In the meantime, as opposed to this individual, we'll stick to the facts: The state's truck drivers 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 almost 50% higher than California. Statistics are clear. This administration is dishonest."

Voter Sentiment and Future Prospects

A this month's poll showed that nearly three-quarters of Democratic voters and a significant portion of the electorate indicated that the governor should run for the White House in 2028. In recent years, his approval ratings has risen to an mean of a third from around 30%, while his negative ratings has fallen from an mean of more than 40% to current figures.

Earlier this year, Newsom remarked while visiting several battleground states that he had "uncertainty" about his future for the next presidential election.

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

"The idea that a guy who got 960 on his SAT, who still struggles to read scripts, who was often seated at the back – the idea that you would even throw that out is, in and of itself, remarkable," he commented. "It's anyone's guess? I'm looking forward to who emerges in the next election and who answers the call. And that remains the key point for the U.S. citizens."