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Gavin Newsom, a prominent Democratic figure, has indicated that he plans to decide on whether to seek the White House in 2028 once the 2026 congressional elections conclude.

"Absolutely, it would be dishonest if I said no," Newsom stated when asked about seriously considering a White House bid following the 2026 ballots. "I'd just be lying. And I won't do that."

The governor's time in office as governor ends in January 2027, and term limits prevent another run. Yet, he noted that any choice is still years away.

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

Growing Prominence as a Trump Critic

The California governor has emerged as a high-profile opponent of the Trump administration, using his digital presence and advocating for a ballot measure that would boost the party's congressional seats in response to redistricting by Republicans. This action has made him a target from critics.

Clash on Transportation

The former president's transportation chief, Sean Duffy, alleged that Newsom does not care about Californians in a recent appearance on a major news network. Duffy disclosed plans to pull taxpayer dollars from the state and suggested suspending the state's ability to provide CDLs.

"I plan to withdraw $160m from the state," Duffy declared, after a this week's deadly accident in the state involving an undocumented trucker that led to three deaths and injured individuals.

His administration pointed out that the national authorities had renewed the driver's employment multiple times, which enabled him to obtain a commercial driver's license under federal law.

The transportation secretary had previously stated he was holding back additional funds from the state for ignoring linguistic standards for commercial drivers.

Firm Rebuttal from the Team

"One-time television figure, now Secretary of Transportation, fails to grasp national statutes," Newsom's office said in a recent release responding to the funding warnings. "In the meantime, as opposed to this individual, we focus on reality: California truck drivers had a fatal crash rate nearly 40% lower than the national average. The state of Texas – the only state with a larger number of CDL holders – has a rate almost 50% higher than California. Data speaks for itself. The federal leadership misleads."

Polling Data and Political Future

A this month's survey showed that 72% of Democrats and a significant portion of the electorate believed that Newsom should run for the White House in 2028. After the current administration began, Newsom's favorability has risen to an average of about one-third from around 30%, while his unfavorability has fallen from an average of previous highs to current figures.

In previous months, Newsom commented while visiting several swing states that he had "no idea" about his plans for 2028.

He mentioned his past difficulties, including being diagnosed with dyslexia at the early childhood.

"The thought that a person who scored 960 on the SAT, who has ongoing difficulties with text, who was often seated at the back – the fact that this is even suggested is, in and of itself, remarkable," he said. "Who the hell knows? I await who steps forward in 2028 and who rises to the occasion. And that is the issue for the American people."