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Gavin Newsom, a leading Democratic figure, has revealed that he intends to decide on whether to run for president in 2028 following the 2026 elections are over.

"Absolutely, I would be lying otherwise," the governor stated when pressed about contemplating a campaign for president post the 2026 ballots. "That wouldn't be honest. And I'm not."

Newsom's tenure as California's leader wraps up in early 2027, and term limits prevent another run. Yet, he cautioned that any determination is still years away.

"Fate will determine that," he remarked.

Growing Prominence as a Political Adversary

Newsom has come to the forefront as a high-profile opponent of the Trump administration, using his online platforms and pushing a proposition that would boost Democratic representation in Congress in as a counter to GOP gerrymandering. This action has invited attacks from political opponents.

Controversy Over Funds

The former president's secretary of transportation, Sean Duffy, alleged that Newsom does not care about the state's residents in a weekend appearance on Fox News. The secretary revealed a strategy to withhold taxpayer dollars from the state and threatened revoking the authority to provide commercial driver's licenses.

"I plan to withdraw a significant sum from the state," Duffy stated, following a recent deadly accident in the state involving an unauthorized commercial driver that resulted in three deaths and injured individuals.

The governor's team pointed out that the federal government had renewed the worker's status repeatedly, which allowed him to receive a trucking license under U.S. law.

Duffy had earlier indicated he was holding back additional funds from the state for failing to implement language proficiency rules for commercial drivers.

Firm Rebuttal from the Team

"One-time television figure, now Secretary of Transportation, fails to grasp federal law," Newsom's office responded in a previous comment countering the secretary's comments. "For now, as opposed to this individual, we'll stick to the facts: The state's commercial driver's license holders had a accident mortality rate significantly lower than the U.S. average. Texas – the single state with more commercial holders – has a rate substantially higher than California. Data speaks for itself. The Trump administration does."

Public Opinion and Political Future

A recently conducted survey revealed that nearly three-quarters of Democratic voters and a significant portion of the electorate believed that the governor ought to campaign for president in 2028. In recent years, his approval ratings has grown to an average of 33.5% from approximately 30%, while his disapproval has decreased from an typical level of more than 40% to current figures.

Some time ago, Newsom remarked while visiting several battleground states that he had "uncertainty" about his intentions for 2028.

He noted his earlier challenges, including being found to have a learning disability at the early childhood.

"The notion that a guy 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. "It's anyone's guess? I await who steps forward in the next election and who meets that moment. And that's the question for the U.S. citizens."