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Gavin Newsom, a prominent Democratic figure, has revealed that he will make a decision about whether to seek the White House in 2028 following the 2026 congressional elections conclude.

"Yes, I couldn't be truthful otherwise," Newsom remarked when questioned about giving serious thought to a White House bid post the 2026 elections. "I'd just be lying. And I'm not."

Newsom's time in office as California's leader concludes in early 2027, and term limits prevent another run. But, he emphasized that any determination is still years away.

"The future will decide," he said.

Rising Profile as a Trump Critic

Newsom has emerged as a notable critic of the Trump administration, using his digital presence and championing a ballot measure that would increase the party's House seats in response to GOP gerrymandering. This move has made him a target from political opponents.

Federal Funding Dispute

Donald Trump's secretary of transportation, Sean Duffy, claimed that Newsom is indifferent about the state's residents in a weekend interview on Fox News. The secretary announced plans to cut federal funds from California and threatened suspending the authority to grant trucking licenses.

"I'm about to pull $160m from California," he declared, in the wake of a recent deadly accident in the state involving an non-citizen semi truck driver that caused loss of life and four injuries.

The governor's team noted that the national authorities had approved the individual's authorization multiple times, which enabled him to secure a CDL under federal law.

The transportation secretary had before announced he was holding back $40m from the state for failing to implement language proficiency rules for commercial drivers.

Firm Rebuttal from the Administration

"Ex-reality TV personality, now Secretary of Transportation, fails to grasp federal law," his administration said in a previous statement addressing the secretary's comments. "Meanwhile, in contrast to this person, we focus on reality: California CDL holders had a accident mortality rate nearly 40% lower than the U.S. average. The state of Texas – the sole state with additional licensed drivers – has a rate markedly elevated than California. Statistics are clear. This administration is dishonest."

Public Opinion and Future Prospects

A recent survey showed that nearly three-quarters of Democratic voters and 48% of all registered voters said that the governor must consider running for president in 2028. In recent years, public support for the governor has risen to an mean of a third from approximately 30%, while his disapproval has decreased from an average of more than 40% to current figures.

Earlier this year, the governor remarked while on a trip several battleground states that he had "no clue" about his intentions for 2028.

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

"The notion that a person who had modest test scores, who has ongoing difficulties with text, who was always in the back of the classroom – 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 steps forward in 2028 and who rises to the occasion. And that remains the key point for the voters."