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Gavin Newsom, a prominent Democratic figure, has indicated that he plans to decide on whether to run for president in 2028 once the 2026 midterm elections wrap up.

"Yeah, I couldn't be truthful otherwise," the governor stated when pressed about contemplating a presidential run post the 2026 midterms. "It wouldn't be the truth. And I'm not."

Newsom's time in office as California's leader ends in early 2027, and he cannot run again. But, he cautioned that any choice is not imminent.

"Fate will determine that," he remarked.

Increased Visibility as a Political Adversary

He has come to the forefront as a high-profile critic of the former president's team, leveraging his digital presence and pushing a ballot measure that would boost the party's representation in Congress in response to redistricting by Republicans. This action has invited attacks from adversaries.

Federal Funding Dispute

The former president's transportation chief, Sean Duffy, accused that the governor shows no concern about the state's residents in a recent appearance on a major news network. Duffy announced intentions to withhold taxpayer dollars from California and suggested revoking the state's ability to grant commercial driver's licenses.

"I plan to withdraw a significant sum from the state," Duffy stated, following a this week's fatal crash in California involving an undocumented semi truck driver that caused loss of life and four injuries.

Newsom's office highlighted that the national authorities had renewed the driver's employment multiple times, which enabled him to obtain a commercial driver's license under U.S. law.

The transportation secretary had previously stated he was withholding $40m from California for not enforcing linguistic standards for truck drivers.

Strong Response from the Administration

"Former D-list reality star, now transportation chief, fails to grasp federal law," Newsom's office retorted in a previous statement countering the funding warnings. "Meanwhile, unlike this clown, we focus on reality: California truck drivers had a accident mortality rate much lower than the U.S. average. The state of Texas – the sole state with a larger number of CDL holders – has a rate markedly elevated than California. Statistics are clear. The federal leadership misleads."

Voter Sentiment and Political Future

A recent poll showed that 72% of Democrats and 48% of all registered voters said that Newsom ought to campaign for the White House in the next election cycle. Since Trump took office, Newsom's favorability has grown to an typical level of 33.5% from previous levels, while his negative ratings has dropped from an mean of more than 40% to 38.4%.

In previous months, Newsom commented while on a trip several key regions that he had "no clue" about his intentions for 2028.

He mentioned his earlier challenges, including being diagnosed with dyslexia at the early childhood.

"The thought that a person who got 960 on his SAT, who continues to find reading challenging, who was typically not at the front – the idea that you would even throw that out is, alone, amazing," he commented. "Who the hell knows? I'm looking forward to who presents themselves in the next election and who meets that moment. And that remains the key point for the American people."