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The California governor, a leading Democratic figure, has indicated that he plans to make a decision about whether to run for president in 2028 once the 2026 elections wrap up.

"Yes, it would be dishonest if I denied it," the governor stated when pressed about contemplating a campaign for president post the 2026 ballots. "That wouldn't be honest. And I'm not."

Newsom's current term as California's leader ends in the start of 2027, and he is ineligible for re-election. Yet, he emphasized that any choice is a long way off.

"The future will decide," he added.

Increased Visibility as a Administration Opponent

Newsom has emerged as a prominent opponent of the Trump administration, using his online platforms and advocating for a initiative that would boost Democratic House seats in response to Republican redistricting efforts. This action has made him a target from critics.

Federal Funding Dispute

The former president's transportation chief, Sean Duffy, claimed that Newsom shows no concern about the state's residents in a recent interview on Fox News. The secretary disclosed a strategy to cut taxpayer dollars from California and warned eliminating the power to provide commercial driver's licenses.

"I intend to cut $160 million from the state," Duffy said, after a recent deadly accident in the state involving an unauthorized commercial driver that caused loss of life and injured individuals.

Newsom's office noted that the national authorities had approved the driver's employment on several occasions, which enabled him to obtain a commercial driver's license under U.S. law.

Duffy had earlier stated he was holding back $40m from California for not enforcing linguistic standards for commercial drivers.

Pointed Reply from the Governor's Office

"Former D-list reality star, now Secretary of Transportation, fails to grasp U.S. regulations," his administration retorted in a previous release responding to the funding warnings. "In the meantime, unlike this clown, we rely on data: California truck drivers had a death rate much lower than the countrywide rate. The state of Texas – the single state with additional licensed drivers – has a rate substantially higher than the state. Facts don't lie. The Trump administration does."

Public Opinion and Campaign Considerations

A recent survey showed that nearly three-quarters of Democratic voters and 48% of all registered voters believed that Newsom should run for president in the next election cycle. In recent years, public support for the governor has risen to an mean of about one-third from around 30%, while his unfavorability has fallen from an average of previous highs to 38.4%.

Earlier this year, the governor stated while traveling several key regions that he had "no clue" about his plans for the next presidential election.

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

"The idea that a person who got 960 on his SAT, who has ongoing difficulties with text, who was typically not at the front – that such a possibility is discussed is, alone, remarkable," he commented. "Who the hell knows? I am eager to see who presents themselves in 2028 and who rises to the occasion. And that's the question for the American people."