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Gavin Newsom, a leading member of the Democratic party, has indicated that he will make a decision about whether to run for president in 2028 after the 2026 midterm elections wrap up.

"Yes, it would be dishonest otherwise," Newsom commented when questioned about contemplating a White House bid post the 2026 ballots. "That wouldn't be honest. And I'm not."

Newsom's tenure as California's leader ends in early 2027, and he cannot run again. But, he emphasized that any choice is still years away.

"The future will decide," he added.

Rising Profile as a Trump Critic

The California governor has stepped forward as a high-profile opponent of the Trump administration, employing his digital presence and advocating for a proposition that would boost the party's House seats in response to Republican redistricting efforts. This strategy has made him a target from adversaries.

Controversy Over Funds

Donald Trump's transportation chief, Sean Duffy, claimed that Newsom is indifferent about Californians in a weekend appearance on Fox News. Duffy disclosed intentions to withhold government money from the state and threatened suspending the state's ability to provide trucking licenses.

"I plan to withdraw $160m from California," Duffy said, in the wake of a recent deadly accident in California involving an unauthorized semi truck driver that caused loss of life and casualties.

Newsom's office noted that the federal government had reauthorized the individual's authorization multiple times, which enabled him to secure a commercial driver's license under national regulations.

Duffy had previously announced he was blocking $40 million from California for ignoring language proficiency rules for commercial drivers.

Firm Rebuttal from the Team

"One-time television figure, now cabinet member, still doesn't understand federal law," Newsom's office said in a recent release addressing Duffy's threats. "In the meantime, unlike this clown, we focus on reality: California CDL holders had a accident mortality rate significantly lower than the countrywide rate. Texas – the only state with more commercial holders – has a rate almost 50% higher than the state. Statistics are clear. This administration is dishonest."

Voter Sentiment and Political Future

A recently conducted survey found that nearly three-quarters of Democratic voters and 48% of all registered voters believed that the governor should run for president in 2028. Since Trump took office, Newsom's favorability has increased to an mean of a third from around 30%, while his negative ratings has fallen from an typical level of more than 40% to under 40%.

In previous months, the governor remarked while on a trip several swing states that he had "no clue" about his intentions for the next presidential election.

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

"The thought that a guy who had modest test scores, who still struggles to read scripts, who was often seated at the back – the idea that you would even throw that out is, in and of itself, amazing," he said. "Who the hell knows? I'm looking forward to who presents themselves in the next election and who answers the call. And that's the question for the U.S. citizens."