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The California governor, a leading Democratic figure, has disclosed that he will make a decision about whether to launch a presidential campaign in 2028 once the 2026 midterm elections wrap up.

"Yeah, I would be lying if I said no," the governor remarked when questioned about contemplating a presidential run post the 2026 elections. "I'd just be lying. And I won't do that."

The governor's current term as governor wraps up in January 2027, and he cannot run again. Yet, he noted that any determination is not imminent.

"It's up to destiny," he added.

Growing Prominence as a Political Adversary

The California governor has stepped forward as a high-profile opponent of the Trump administration, using his social media accounts and championing a ballot measure that would boost Democratic representation in Congress in as a counter to Republican redistricting efforts. This move has made him a target from adversaries.

Federal Funding Dispute

The former president's transportation chief, Sean Duffy, claimed that Newsom shows no concern about Californians in a recent segment on Fox News. The secretary disclosed a strategy to cut government money from the state and threatened eliminating the authority to issue commercial driver's licenses.

"I'm about to pull $160m from California," Duffy declared, following a recently reported deadly accident in California involving an unauthorized trucker that led to loss of life and four injuries.

Newsom's office highlighted that the U.S. government had reauthorized the driver's employment on several occasions, which allowed him to receive a CDL under federal law.

The transportation secretary had earlier indicated he was holding back $40 million from California for failing to implement language proficiency rules for truck drivers.

Firm Rebuttal from the Governor's Office

"Former D-list reality star, now transportation chief, still doesn't understand federal law," the governor's team responded in a last month's release addressing the secretary's comments. "Meanwhile, as opposed to this individual, we rely on data: California CDL holders had a accident mortality rate significantly lower than the national average. Texas – the single state with additional licensed drivers – has a rate substantially higher than California. Facts don't lie. The federal leadership misleads."

Public Opinion and Political Future

A recent poll revealed that 72% of Democrats and 48% of all registered voters indicated that the governor ought to campaign for the White House in 2028. Since Trump took office, his approval ratings has risen to an typical level of about one-third from previous levels, while his unfavorability has fallen from an typical level of previous highs to current figures.

In previous months, the governor stated while visiting several swing states that he had "uncertainty" about his future for the next presidential election.

He noted his past difficulties, including being found to have a learning disability at the young age of five.

"The notion that a person who scored 960 on the SAT, who continues to find reading challenging, who was always in the back of the classroom – the idea that you would even throw that out is, in and of itself, extraordinary," he said. "It's anyone's guess? I'm looking forward to who steps forward in 2028 and who answers the call. And that remains the key point for the U.S. citizens."