🔗 Share this article Gavin Newsom Acknowledges He Is Weighing a Presidential Campaign for 2028 The California governor, a leading Democratic figure, has disclosed that he will make a decision about whether to launch a presidential campaign in 2028 following the 2026 elections conclude. "Yeah, it would be dishonest otherwise," Newsom remarked when questioned about seriously considering a White House bid after the 2026 elections. "I'd just be lying. And I can't do that." Newsom's time in office as governor ends in January 2027, and he cannot run again. Yet, he noted that any choice is a long way off. "It's up to destiny," he remarked. Rising Profile as a Political Adversary Newsom has come to the forefront as a notable critic of the former president's team, using his digital presence and championing a initiative that would boost Democratic House seats in response to GOP gerrymandering. This move has invited attacks from adversaries. Controversy Over Funds Donald Trump's secretary of transportation, Sean Duffy, alleged that Newsom is indifferent about Californians in a weekend appearance on Fox News. Duffy revealed a strategy to pull federal funds from the state and threatened eliminating the authority to grant trucking licenses. "I'm about to pull $160 million from the state," Duffy declared, in the wake of a recent tragic collision in California involving an undocumented trucker that led to three deaths and casualties. Newsom's office pointed out that the U.S. government had renewed the individual's authorization on several occasions, which enabled him to obtain a commercial driver's license under U.S. law. Duffy had earlier announced he was withholding additional funds from the state for not enforcing language proficiency rules for CDL holders. Pointed Reply from the Administration "Former D-list reality star, now cabinet member, still doesn't understand U.S. regulations," Newsom's office responded in a recent comment addressing the funding warnings. "Meanwhile, as opposed to this individual, we'll stick to the facts: California truck drivers had a fatal crash rate much lower than the U.S. average. Texas – the only state with additional licensed drivers – has a rate almost 50% higher than the state. Statistics are clear. This administration is dishonest." Voter Sentiment and Future Prospects A recently conducted poll found that nearly three-quarters of Democratic voters and 48% of all registered voters said that the governor ought to campaign for president in 2028. After the current administration began, Newsom's favorability has increased to an average of about one-third from around 30%, while his negative ratings has dropped from an mean of over 40% to current figures. Earlier this year, the governor commented while on a trip several battleground states that he had "no clue" about his future for 2028. He also referenced his personal struggles, including being found to have a learning disability at the age of five. "The idea that a person who had modest test scores, who has ongoing difficulties with text, who was typically not at the front – that such a possibility is discussed is, by itself, remarkable," he commented. "Who the hell knows? I'm looking forward to who presents themselves in the next election and who answers the call. And that's the question for the American people."