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Gavin Newsom, a well-known member of the Democratic party, has revealed that he plans to make a decision about whether to seek the White House in 2028 once the 2026 congressional elections wrap up.

"Absolutely, it would be dishonest otherwise," Newsom remarked when pressed about giving serious thought to a White House bid after the 2026 elections. "I'd just be lying. And I'm not."

The governor's current term as California's leader wraps up in the start of 2027, and he cannot run again. However, he emphasized that any determination is a long way off.

"The future will decide," he said.

Increased Visibility as a Political Adversary

He has stepped forward as a high-profile adversary of the former president's team, using his online platforms and advocating for a ballot measure that would increase Democratic House seats in response to redistricting by Republicans. This action has made him a target from critics.

Clash on Transportation

Donald Trump's secretary of transportation, Sean Duffy, accused that Newsom shows no concern about Californians in a Sunday interview on a major news network. The secretary revealed intentions to withhold federal funds from the state and warned eliminating the authority to issue CDLs.

"I plan to withdraw $160m from the state," he declared, after a this week's deadly accident in the state involving an undocumented semi truck driver that led to three deaths and casualties.

Newsom's office highlighted that the national authorities had approved the worker's status multiple times, which permitted him to obtain a trucking license under federal law.

The transportation secretary had before stated he was holding back additional funds from California for ignoring linguistic standards for truck drivers.

Firm Rebuttal from the Administration

"Former D-list reality star, now Secretary of Transportation, continues to misunderstand national statutes," Newsom's office said in a last month's comment responding to the secretary's comments. "For now, in contrast to this person, we focus on reality: California CDL holders had a death rate much lower than the countrywide rate. The state of Texas – the sole state with more commercial holders – has a rate substantially higher than the state. Facts don't lie. The Trump administration does."

Public Opinion and Future Prospects

A recently conducted poll showed that nearly three-quarters of Democratic voters and almost half of voters believed that the governor should run for the White House in 2028. In recent years, Newsom's favorability has risen to an average of about one-third from approximately 30%, while his disapproval has decreased from an average of more than 40% to under 40%.

In previous months, the governor remarked while on a trip several battleground states that he had "uncertainty" about his plans for 2028.

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

"The notion that a person who scored 960 on the SAT, who has ongoing difficulties with text, who was often seated at the back – that such a possibility is discussed is, alone, extraordinary," he stated. "It's anyone's guess? I'm looking forward to who presents themselves in 2028 and who rises to the occasion. And that remains the key point for the voters."