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The California governor, a leading Democratic figure, has indicated that he plans to decide on whether to seek the White House in 2028 after the 2026 congressional elections conclude.

"Absolutely, I would be lying if I said no," Newsom stated when pressed about seriously considering a campaign for president following the 2026 ballots. "I'd just be lying. And I won't do that."

The governor's current term as California's leader wraps up in January 2027, and he is ineligible for re-election. However, he emphasized that any determination is still years away.

"Fate will determine that," he added.

Rising Profile as a Trump Critic

The California governor has stepped forward as a prominent critic of the Trump administration, using his social media accounts and advocating for a initiative that would increase the party's House seats in as a counter to redistricting by Republicans. This strategy has made him a target from adversaries.

Federal Funding Dispute

Donald Trump's secretary of transportation, Sean Duffy, alleged that Newsom shows no concern about the state's residents in a Sunday appearance on Fox News. Duffy announced intentions to pull federal funds from the state and warned eliminating the authority to provide commercial driver's licenses.

"I plan to withdraw $160m from California," he stated, after a this week's fatal crash in California involving an non-citizen semi truck driver that led to three deaths and four injuries.

His administration noted that the federal government had approved the individual's authorization on several occasions, which allowed him to secure a trucking license under U.S. law.

The transportation secretary had earlier announced he was blocking additional funds from California for not enforcing language proficiency rules for truck drivers.

Strong Response from the Administration

"Former D-list reality star, now Secretary of Transportation, fails to grasp federal law," his administration said in a recent comment countering the funding warnings. "In the meantime, in contrast to this person, we rely on data: The state's truck drivers had a fatal crash rate nearly 40% lower than the U.S. average. Texas – the only state with a larger number of CDL holders – has a rate markedly elevated than California. Data speaks for itself. The Trump administration does."

Public Opinion and Future Prospects

A recently conducted survey found that 72% of Democrats and almost half of voters said that Newsom should run for president in the next election cycle. After the current administration began, Newsom's favorability has grown to an typical level of a third from approximately 30%, while his disapproval has fallen from an typical level of over 40% to under 40%.

Some time ago, the governor remarked while traveling several battleground states that he had "no idea" about his plans for 2028.

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

"The notion that a person who had modest test scores, who continues to find reading challenging, who was typically not at the front – the idea that you would even throw that out is, by itself, amazing," he commented. "No one can say? I am eager to see who steps forward in the next election and who meets that moment. And that is the issue for the voters."