🔗 Share this article

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

"Yeah, it would be dishonest if I denied it," Newsom remarked when asked about contemplating a White House bid post the 2026 elections. "I'd just be lying. And I can't do that."

The governor's time in office as California's leader concludes in the start of 2027, and he is ineligible for re-election. However, he cautioned that any decision is still years away.

"It's up to destiny," he remarked.

Increased Visibility as a Political Adversary

The California governor has come to the forefront as a prominent critic of the Trump administration, using his social media accounts and advocating for a proposition that would increase Democratic congressional seats in as a counter to GOP gerrymandering. This move has drawn criticism from political opponents.

Federal Funding Dispute

Donald Trump's transportation chief, Sean Duffy, accused that the governor shows no concern about the state's residents in a Sunday interview on a major news network. The secretary disclosed plans to cut federal funds from California and threatened suspending the state's ability to provide CDLs.

"I'm about to pull $160m from the state," he said, following a recent fatal crash in California involving an unauthorized commercial driver that caused fatalities and casualties.

The governor's team highlighted that the national authorities had approved the individual's authorization repeatedly, which allowed him to obtain a commercial driver's license under U.S. law.

The transportation secretary had before indicated he was holding back $40m from the state for ignoring linguistic standards for commercial drivers.

Pointed Reply from the Team

"Former D-list reality star, now cabinet member, continues to misunderstand U.S. regulations," Newsom's office retorted in a recent statement addressing the funding warnings. "For now, in contrast to this person, we focus on reality: California commercial driver's license holders had a death rate nearly 40% lower than the U.S. average. Texas – the only state with additional licensed drivers – has a rate markedly elevated than the state. Data speaks for itself. This administration is dishonest."

Polling Data and Campaign Considerations

A this month's poll found that nearly three-quarters of Democratic voters and almost half of voters said that the governor ought to campaign for the White House in 2028. In recent years, his approval ratings has increased to an average of about one-third from around 30%, while his disapproval has dropped from an mean of over 40% to current figures.

In previous months, the governor commented while visiting several key regions that he had "no clue" about his intentions for 2028.

He also referenced his personal struggles, including being diagnosed with dyslexia at the young age of five.

"The thought that a individual who had modest test scores, who still struggles to read scripts, who was typically not at the front – the idea that you would even throw that out is, alone, extraordinary," he said. "Who the hell knows? I await who presents themselves in the next election and who meets that moment. And that's the question for the American people."