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Gavin Newsom, a leading Democratic figure, has indicated that he will determine whether to launch a presidential campaign in 2028 once the 2026 midterm elections are over.

"Yeah, I couldn't be truthful otherwise," the governor commented when asked about contemplating a presidential run after the 2026 ballots. "That wouldn't be honest. And I'm not."

Newsom's tenure as governor concludes in the start of 2027, and he is ineligible for re-election. But, he cautioned that any choice is still years away.

"Fate will determine that," he said.

Growing Prominence as a Administration Opponent

The California governor has emerged as a high-profile critic of the former president's team, leveraging his online platforms and championing a proposition that would increase the party's representation in Congress in response to GOP gerrymandering. This move has made him a target from adversaries.

Controversy Over Funds

Donald Trump's secretary of transportation, Sean Duffy, alleged that Newsom does not care about the state's residents in a Sunday appearance on a major news network. Duffy disclosed intentions to cut government money from California and warned suspending the authority to provide trucking licenses.

"I intend to cut $160 million from the state," Duffy declared, following a recent fatal crash in California involving an undocumented commercial driver that resulted in loss of life and injured individuals.

His administration pointed out that the federal government had renewed the driver's employment on several occasions, which allowed him to secure a CDL under U.S. law.

The transportation secretary had before indicated he was holding back $40 million from California for not enforcing English language requirements for truck drivers.

Firm Rebuttal from the Team

"Ex-reality TV personality, now transportation chief, continues to misunderstand national statutes," the governor's team retorted in a recent comment addressing the secretary's comments. "For now, in contrast to this person, we'll stick to the facts: California truck drivers had a accident mortality rate nearly 40% lower than the national average. The state of Texas – the only state with additional licensed drivers – has a rate markedly elevated than California. Data speaks for itself. The federal leadership misleads."

Public Opinion and Campaign Considerations

A recent study found that nearly three-quarters of Democratic voters and a significant portion of the electorate indicated that the governor ought to campaign for president in the next election cycle. Since Trump took office, his approval ratings has risen to an mean of 33.5% from previous levels, while his negative ratings has decreased from an mean of over 40% to current figures.

Some time ago, the governor commented while traveling several key regions that he had "no idea" about his intentions for the next presidential election.

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

"The thought that a person 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, alone, remarkable," he stated. "It's anyone's guess? I await who emerges in the next election and who rises to the occasion. And that remains the key point for the American people."