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Gavin Newsom, a leading Democratic figure, has revealed that he plans to determine whether to launch a presidential campaign in 2028 once the 2026 congressional elections wrap up.

"Yes, I couldn't be truthful if I denied it," Newsom stated when questioned about giving serious thought to a White House bid post the 2026 midterms. "That wouldn't be honest. And I can't do that."

The governor's current term as California's leader concludes in the start of 2027, and he cannot run again. Yet, he cautioned that any decision is not imminent.

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

Rising Profile as a Political Adversary

The California governor has emerged as a prominent adversary of the current federal leadership, employing his online platforms and pushing a proposition that would expand the party's congressional seats in response to Republican redistricting efforts. This action has drawn criticism from adversaries.

Federal Funding Dispute

Donald Trump's secretary of transportation, Sean Duffy, accused that Newsom is indifferent about Californians in a Sunday segment on Fox News. The secretary revealed intentions to withhold taxpayer dollars from the state and suggested eliminating the state's ability to issue commercial driver's licenses.

"I plan to withdraw $160 million from the state," Duffy said, in the wake of a this week's deadly accident in the state involving an non-citizen trucker that led to loss of life and four injuries.

The governor's team pointed out that the U.S. government had approved the worker's status multiple times, which enabled him to secure a commercial driver's license under U.S. law.

Duffy had before announced he was holding back additional funds from the state for ignoring linguistic standards for truck drivers.

Firm Rebuttal from the Administration

"Former D-list reality star, now Secretary of Transportation, fails to grasp U.S. regulations," his administration responded in a last month's release countering the secretary's comments. "Meanwhile, unlike this clown, we'll stick to the facts: California CDL holders had a accident mortality rate significantly lower than the U.S. average. Texas – the single state with additional licensed drivers – has a rate markedly elevated than the state. Statistics are clear. This administration is dishonest."

Public Opinion and Political Future

A recent study showed that 72% of Democrats and 48% of all registered voters indicated that the governor must consider running for president in the next election cycle. After the current administration began, his approval ratings has risen to an average of about one-third from previous levels, while his disapproval has fallen from an average of previous highs to 38.4%.

Earlier this year, the governor remarked while traveling several swing states that he had "uncertainty" about his future for 2028.

He noted his personal struggles, including being diagnosed with dyslexia at the young age of five.

"The notion that a individual who got 960 on his SAT, who still struggles to read scripts, who was typically not at the front – the fact that this is even suggested is, in and of itself, remarkable," he said. "It's anyone's guess? I am eager to see who emerges in the next election and who rises to the occasion. And that is the issue for the U.S. citizens."