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Gavin Newsom, a leading member of the Democratic party, has disclosed that he will make a decision about whether to launch a presidential campaign in 2028 after the 2026 midterm elections are over.

"Yes, it would be dishonest if I said no," Newsom commented when pressed about seriously considering a presidential run post the 2026 midterms. "I'd just be lying. And I can't do that."

The governor's time in office as California's leader concludes in January 2027, and term limits prevent another run. But, he emphasized that any decision is a long way off.

"The future will decide," he remarked.

Increased Visibility as a Trump Critic

Newsom has stepped forward as a notable adversary of the former president's team, using his social media accounts and championing a proposition that would boost Democratic representation in Congress in as a counter to GOP gerrymandering. This move has made him a target from political opponents.

Controversy Over Funds

The former president's transportation chief, Sean Duffy, claimed that Newsom shows no concern about Californians in a weekend interview on a major news network. Duffy announced a strategy to cut federal funds from the state and suggested eliminating the power to grant commercial driver's licenses.

"I plan to withdraw $160m from California," he said, in the wake of a this week's deadly accident in California involving an non-citizen semi truck driver that caused loss of life and injured individuals.

The governor's team highlighted that the federal government had reauthorized the driver's employment on several occasions, which permitted him to receive a commercial driver's license under U.S. law.

The transportation secretary had before announced he was holding back $40m from California for not enforcing language proficiency rules for truck drivers.

Pointed Reply from the Team

"Former D-list reality star, now cabinet member, still doesn't understand federal law," Newsom's office said in a last month's release responding to the funding warnings. "Meanwhile, as opposed to this individual, we'll stick to the facts: The state's commercial driver's license holders had a accident mortality rate much lower than the countrywide rate. Texas – the single state with additional licensed drivers – has a rate substantially higher than California. Data speaks for itself. The Trump administration does."

Public Opinion and Political Future

A recent study found that a majority of the party and a significant portion of the electorate said that the governor must consider running for president in 2028. In recent years, his approval ratings has grown to an typical level of about one-third from previous levels, while his unfavorability has fallen from an mean of more than 40% to 38.4%.

Some time ago, the governor commented while visiting several swing states that he had "no clue" about his intentions for the next presidential election.

He also referenced his past difficulties, including being diagnosed with dyslexia at the young age of five.

"The idea that a person who had modest test scores, who continues to find reading challenging, who was always in the back of the classroom – that such a possibility is discussed is, by itself, remarkable," he stated. "Who the hell knows? I'm looking forward to who steps forward in the next election and who meets that moment. And that is the issue for the American people."