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The California governor, a well-known member of the Democratic party, has indicated that he intends to make a decision about whether to run for president in 2028 once the 2026 midterm elections conclude.

"Absolutely, I would be lying if I denied it," Newsom stated when asked about giving serious thought to a campaign for president following the 2026 ballots. "It wouldn't be the truth. And I can't do that."

The governor's tenure as governor wraps up in the start of 2027, and term limits prevent another run. However, he cautioned that any decision is not imminent.

"The future will decide," he said.

Growing Prominence as a Political Adversary

He has stepped forward as a prominent opponent of the current federal leadership, employing his social media accounts and advocating for a initiative that would expand Democratic congressional seats in as a counter to redistricting by Republicans. This action has made him a target from adversaries.

Controversy Over Funds

The former president's transportation chief, Sean Duffy, claimed that the governor does not care about the state's residents in a recent appearance on a major news network. Duffy revealed plans to cut federal funds from California and warned revoking the power to grant commercial driver's licenses.

"I'm about to pull a significant sum from the state," he said, in the wake of a recent deadly accident in California involving an unauthorized trucker that resulted in loss of life and casualties.

Newsom's office pointed out that the federal government had renewed the individual's authorization repeatedly, which permitted him to obtain a trucking license under federal law.

The transportation secretary had previously stated he was withholding $40m from California for ignoring language proficiency rules for CDL holders.

Pointed Reply from the Governor's Office

"One-time television figure, now Secretary of Transportation, still doesn't understand federal law," the governor's team said in a recent statement countering the secretary's comments. "In the meantime, unlike this clown, we focus on reality: California truck drivers had a accident mortality rate nearly 40% lower than the national average. The state of Texas – the single state with a larger number of CDL holders – has a rate substantially higher than California. Facts don't lie. The Trump administration does."

Public Opinion and Future Prospects

A this month's study showed that 72% of Democrats and a significant portion of the electorate said that Newsom should run for president in the next election cycle. Since Trump took office, his approval ratings has increased to an average of about one-third from approximately 30%, while his negative ratings has dropped from an average of more than 40% to 38.4%.

Earlier this year, Newsom commented while on a trip several key regions that he had "no clue" about his plans for the next presidential election.

He noted his earlier challenges, including being identified as dyslexic at the early childhood.

"The notion that a guy who got 960 on his SAT, who still struggles to read scripts, who was always in the back of the classroom – the fact that this is even suggested is, by itself, amazing," he said. "It's anyone's guess? I am eager to see who presents themselves in 2028 and who rises to the occasion. And that remains the key point for the voters."