The California governor, a well-known member of the Democratic party, has revealed that he plans to determine whether to run for president in 2028 following the 2026 midterm elections wrap up.
"Yeah, I couldn't be truthful otherwise," Newsom commented when pressed about contemplating a White House bid post the 2026 elections. "It wouldn't be the truth. And I won't do that."
The governor's time in office as California's leader ends in January 2027, and he cannot run again. But, he noted that any decision is not imminent.
"It's up to destiny," he added.
Growing Prominence as a Political Adversary
He has come to the forefront as a prominent adversary of the Trump administration, leveraging his online platforms and advocating for a ballot measure that would boost Democratic representation in Congress in following GOP gerrymandering. This strategy has invited attacks from political opponents.
Federal Funding Dispute
Donald Trump's transportation chief, Sean Duffy, accused that Newsom shows no concern about the state's residents in a recent appearance on a major news network. Duffy announced plans to pull federal funds from California and warned suspending the power to grant trucking licenses.
"I'm about to pull $160m from California," Duffy declared, in the wake of a recent fatal crash in California involving an non-citizen commercial driver that led to three deaths and four injuries.
The governor's team pointed out that the federal government had reauthorized the worker's status on several occasions, which permitted him to receive a CDL under U.S. law.
The transportation secretary had before announced he was blocking $40m from California for not enforcing English language requirements for CDL holders.
Strong Response from the Administration
"Ex-reality TV personality, now cabinet member, continues to misunderstand federal law," Newsom's office said in a recent comment responding to the funding warnings. "Meanwhile, in contrast to this person, we rely on data: California CDL holders had a accident mortality rate nearly 40% lower than the countrywide rate. Texas – the only state with additional licensed drivers – has a rate almost 50% higher than California. Data speaks for itself. The Trump administration does."
Public Opinion and Campaign Considerations
A recently conducted study showed that nearly three-quarters of Democratic voters and 48% of all registered voters indicated that Newsom ought to campaign for the White House in the next election cycle. Since Trump took office, Newsom's favorability has increased to an average of a third from previous levels, while his unfavorability has dropped from an average of over 40% to 38.4%.
Earlier this year, Newsom stated while traveling several key regions that he had "no idea" about his intentions for the next presidential election.
He noted his earlier challenges, including being identified as dyslexic at the age of five.
"The notion that a individual who got 960 on his SAT, who still struggles to read scripts, who was often seated at the back – the fact that this is even suggested is, by itself, extraordinary," he said. "It's anyone's guess? I'm looking forward to who emerges in 2028 and who meets that moment. And that is the issue for the voters."
