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Gavin Newsom, a well-known member of the Democratic party, has indicated that he plans to decide on whether to seek the White House in 2028 following the 2026 elections conclude.

"Yeah, I would be lying otherwise," Newsom commented when questioned about giving serious thought to a White House bid after the 2026 ballots. "I'd just be lying. And I won't do that."

The governor's current term as governor wraps up in early 2027, and he cannot run again. But, he emphasized that any choice is not imminent.

"The future will decide," he remarked.

Increased Visibility as a Administration Opponent

He has stepped forward as a high-profile critic of the current federal leadership, employing his digital presence and advocating for a initiative that would increase the party's House seats in following GOP gerrymandering. This move has made him a target from political opponents.

Controversy Over Funds

The former president's secretary of transportation, Sean Duffy, accused that the governor is indifferent about Californians in a recent segment on a major news network. Duffy disclosed plans to pull federal funds from California and threatened revoking the state's ability to issue CDLs.

"I'm about to pull $160m from California," he said, after a recent tragic collision in the state involving an undocumented commercial driver that led to fatalities and four injuries.

The governor's team pointed out that the U.S. government had renewed the individual's authorization multiple times, which permitted him to obtain a commercial driver's license under U.S. law.

Duffy had previously indicated he was blocking $40 million from California for not enforcing English language requirements for commercial drivers.

Strong Response from the Team

"Former D-list reality star, now Secretary of Transportation, fails to grasp U.S. regulations," his administration retorted in a previous statement countering Duffy's threats. "In the meantime, in contrast to this person, we'll stick to the facts: California commercial driver's license holders had a accident mortality rate significantly lower than the national average. The state of Texas – the single state with a larger number of CDL holders – has a rate markedly elevated than the state. Facts don't lie. The federal leadership misleads."

Public Opinion and Future Prospects

A recent poll found that nearly three-quarters of Democratic voters and 48% of all registered voters believed that the governor ought to campaign for president in 2028. In recent years, public support for the governor has increased to an average of a third from around 30%, while his negative ratings has dropped from an typical level of more than 40% to 38.4%.

Earlier this year, the governor commented while traveling several battleground states that he had "no idea" about his future for 2028.

He also referenced his personal struggles, including being found to have a learning disability at the young age of five.

"The notion that a guy who got 960 on his SAT, who still struggles to read scripts, who was often seated at the back – that such a possibility is discussed is, alone, remarkable," he stated. "No one can say? I am eager to see who presents themselves in the next election and who meets that moment. And that's the question for the American people."