California's Governor States He Is Considering a 2028 Presidential Run
Gavin Newsom, a leading Democratic figure, has indicated that he will make a decision about whether to seek the White House in 2028 after the 2026 midterm elections wrap up.
"Yeah, I would be lying if I denied it," the governor remarked when asked about giving serious thought to a White House bid following the 2026 midterms. "It wouldn't be the truth. And I'm not."
The governor's tenure as governor wraps up in the start of 2027, and he is ineligible for re-election. But, he emphasized that any choice is not imminent.
"It's up to destiny," he added.
Increased Visibility as a Administration Opponent
He has stepped forward as a high-profile opponent of the former president's team, leveraging his online platforms and advocating for a ballot measure that would increase the party's representation in Congress in following redistricting by Republicans. 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 Sunday interview on a major news network. The secretary revealed a strategy to cut taxpayer dollars from the state and warned eliminating the power to provide CDLs.
"I'm about to pull $160 million from California," he declared, in the wake of a this week's deadly accident in the state involving an undocumented semi truck driver that led to three deaths and casualties.
His administration pointed out that the national authorities had renewed the worker's status multiple times, which permitted him to obtain a trucking license under U.S. law.
Duffy had previously indicated he was holding back additional funds from the state for ignoring English language requirements for CDL holders.
Strong Response from the Governor's Office
"Former D-list reality star, now Secretary of Transportation, continues to misunderstand national statutes," the governor's team said in a last month's release responding to Duffy's threats. "Meanwhile, in contrast to this person, we focus on reality: The state's CDL holders had a accident mortality rate nearly 40% lower than the national average. The state of Texas – the sole state with a larger number of CDL holders – has a rate substantially higher than the state. Statistics are clear. This administration is dishonest."
Polling Data and Campaign Considerations
A recent poll revealed that 72% of Democrats and almost half of voters indicated that the governor should run for president in the next election cycle. After the current administration began, public support for the governor has increased to an mean of about one-third from around 30%, while his unfavorability has fallen from an mean of previous highs to current figures.
Some time ago, the governor remarked while on a trip several swing states that he had "uncertainty" about his plans for 2028.
He mentioned his earlier challenges, including being identified as dyslexic at the early childhood.
"The thought that a guy who got 960 on his SAT, who continues to find reading challenging, who was typically not at the front – that such a possibility is discussed is, by itself, extraordinary," he said. "Who the hell knows? I am eager to see who emerges in 2028 and who answers the call. And that's the question for the American people."