🔗 Share this article California's Governor States He Is Evaluating a Presidential Campaign for 2028 Gavin Newsom, a well-known Democratic figure, has indicated that he intends to decide on whether to launch a presidential campaign in 2028 after the 2026 elections wrap up. "Yes, I couldn't be truthful if I said no," Newsom commented when asked about contemplating a campaign for president post the 2026 midterms. "That wouldn't be honest. And I won't do that." The governor's current term as California's leader ends in early 2027, and he is ineligible for re-election. But, he emphasized that any decision is a long way off. "The future will decide," he said. Rising Profile as a Trump Critic The California governor has come to the forefront as a notable adversary of the former president's team, using his digital presence and championing a ballot measure that would increase the party's representation in Congress in response to GOP gerrymandering. This strategy has invited attacks from political opponents. Federal Funding Dispute Donald Trump's transportation chief, Sean Duffy, claimed that the governor shows no concern about the state's residents in a recent segment on a major news network. The secretary revealed plans to pull government money from the state and warned suspending the authority to grant commercial driver's licenses. "I plan to withdraw a significant sum from the state," he stated, in the wake of a this week's tragic collision in California involving an undocumented trucker that caused loss of life and casualties. Newsom's office noted that the federal government had renewed the individual's authorization on several occasions, which permitted him to secure a commercial driver's license under national regulations. The transportation secretary had earlier announced he was withholding additional funds from California for not enforcing linguistic standards for commercial drivers. Pointed Reply from the Governor's Office "One-time television figure, now cabinet member, still doesn't understand federal law," his administration retorted in a recent comment addressing the secretary's comments. "For now, as opposed to this individual, we'll stick to the facts: The state's truck drivers had a death rate significantly lower than the U.S. average. The state of Texas – the only state with a larger number of CDL holders – has a rate substantially higher than the state. Data speaks for itself. This administration is dishonest." Polling Data and Future Prospects A this month's survey found that 72% of Democrats and a significant portion of the electorate said that Newsom ought to campaign for president in 2028. In recent years, Newsom's favorability has risen to an typical level of about one-third from previous levels, while his disapproval has dropped from an average of previous highs to current figures. Earlier this year, the governor remarked while traveling several battleground states that he had "uncertainty" about his plans for 2028. He noted his past difficulties, including being diagnosed with dyslexia at the young age of five. "The thought that a guy who had modest test scores, who continues to find reading challenging, who was often seated at the back – the fact that this is even suggested is, by itself, extraordinary," he stated. "No one can say? I am eager to see who presents themselves in 2028 and who rises to the occasion. And that's the question for the voters."