🔗 Share this article

Gavin Newsom, a leading Democratic figure, has revealed that he plans to make a decision about whether to seek the White House in 2028 following the 2026 midterm elections wrap up.

"Yes, it would be dishonest otherwise," Newsom commented when questioned about contemplating a campaign for president following the 2026 elections. "It wouldn't be the truth. And I'm not."

The governor's time in office as governor wraps up in January 2027, and he is ineligible for re-election. Yet, he noted that any determination is still years away.

"The future will decide," he added.

Growing Prominence as a Administration Opponent

The California governor has stepped forward as a prominent adversary of the Trump administration, leveraging his digital presence and pushing a proposition that would increase the party's congressional seats in following Republican redistricting efforts. This move has made him a target from critics.

Controversy Over Funds

The former president's secretary of transportation, Sean Duffy, alleged that Newsom is indifferent about the state's residents in a weekend appearance on a major news network. Duffy disclosed intentions to withhold government money from the state and suggested revoking the authority to provide CDLs.

"I intend to cut a significant sum from California," Duffy said, following a this week's tragic collision in California involving an undocumented trucker that led to three deaths and casualties.

His administration highlighted that the federal government had approved the individual's authorization on several occasions, which allowed him to receive a trucking license under national regulations.

Duffy had earlier announced he was blocking $40m from the state for not enforcing language proficiency rules for truck drivers.

Pointed Reply from the Governor's Office

"Ex-reality TV personality, now transportation chief, fails to grasp federal law," Newsom's office responded in a previous comment countering Duffy's threats. "For now, as opposed to this individual, we'll stick to the facts: California truck drivers had a fatal crash rate significantly lower than the U.S. average. Texas – the sole state with a larger number of CDL holders – has a rate markedly elevated than California. Facts don't lie. The federal leadership misleads."

Voter Sentiment and Political Future

A this month's study revealed that 72% of Democrats and almost half of voters believed that Newsom should run for president in the next election cycle. After the current administration began, Newsom's favorability has risen to an mean of a third from around 30%, while his disapproval has decreased from an mean of over 40% to under 40%.

In previous months, Newsom remarked while traveling several swing states that he had "uncertainty" about his intentions for 2028.

He noted his personal struggles, including being diagnosed with dyslexia at the early childhood.

"The idea that a guy who had modest test scores, who has ongoing difficulties with text, who was often seated at the back – the fact that this is even suggested is, by itself, remarkable," he stated. "No one can say? I await who presents themselves in the next election and who meets that moment. And that remains the key point for the American people."