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The California governor, a leading member of the Democratic party, has disclosed that he plans to make a decision about whether to seek the White House in 2028 following the 2026 elections are over.

"Yes, I would be lying if I denied it," Newsom remarked when questioned about seriously considering a White House bid after the 2026 elections. "It wouldn't be the truth. And I'm not."

The governor's time in office as governor wraps up in the start of 2027, and he cannot run again. But, he cautioned that any choice is not imminent.

"The future will decide," he said.

Increased Visibility as a Political Adversary

The California governor has emerged as a notable adversary of the current federal leadership, leveraging his digital presence and advocating for a ballot measure that would increase the party's House seats in following redistricting by Republicans. This move has drawn criticism from critics.

Clash on Transportation

Donald Trump's secretary of transportation, Sean Duffy, alleged that the governor is indifferent about Californians in a Sunday appearance on Fox News. The secretary revealed a strategy to pull federal funds from California and threatened revoking the power to issue CDLs.

"I plan to withdraw $160m from California," he declared, following a recently reported deadly accident in California involving an undocumented commercial driver that resulted in fatalities and injured individuals.

Newsom's office noted that the national authorities had renewed the driver's employment multiple times, which allowed him to receive a trucking license under U.S. law.

Duffy had previously stated he was withholding additional funds from California for ignoring linguistic standards for commercial drivers.

Strong Response from the Administration

"Ex-reality TV personality, now Secretary of Transportation, fails to grasp federal law," his administration said in a previous statement countering the funding warnings. "Meanwhile, unlike this clown, we focus on reality: The state's CDL holders had a accident mortality rate much lower than the countrywide rate. Texas – the sole state with more commercial holders – has a rate markedly elevated than the state. Data speaks for itself. The Trump administration does."

Polling Data and Future Prospects

A recently conducted study showed that 72% of Democrats and almost half of voters said that the governor ought to campaign for president in 2028. After the current administration began, his approval ratings has increased to an typical level of 33.5% from approximately 30%, while his negative ratings has decreased from an typical level of more than 40% to 38.4%.

In previous months, Newsom stated while traveling several key regions that he had "no clue" about his future for the next presidential election.

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

"The notion that a individual who had modest test scores, who continues to find reading challenging, who was typically not at the front – the fact that this is even suggested is, alone, amazing," he said. "Who the hell knows? I am eager to see who steps forward in the next election and who answers the call. And that's the question for the voters."