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The California governor, a leading member of the Democratic party, has revealed that he will make a decision about whether to run for president in 2028 after the 2026 congressional elections wrap up.

"Yeah, I would be lying if I denied it," the governor stated when questioned about seriously considering a White House bid after the 2026 ballots. "I'd just be lying. And I won't do that."

The governor's time in office as governor concludes in the start of 2027, and term limits prevent another run. However, he cautioned that any decision is not imminent.

"The future will decide," he added.

Rising Profile as a Administration Opponent

He has stepped forward as a notable opponent of the former president's team, leveraging his digital presence and advocating for a proposition that would increase the party's representation in Congress in response to GOP gerrymandering. This move has made him a target from political opponents.

Controversy Over Funds

The former president's transportation chief, Sean Duffy, accused that the governor does not care about the state's residents in a recent segment on a major news network. Duffy revealed intentions to pull government money from the state and warned eliminating the authority to provide CDLs.

"I'm about to pull $160m from California," Duffy stated, following a this week's fatal crash in the state involving an non-citizen semi truck driver that resulted in three deaths and four injuries.

His administration highlighted that the federal government had reauthorized the driver's employment repeatedly, which enabled him to obtain a trucking license under U.S. law.

The transportation secretary had previously announced he was withholding $40 million from the state for failing to implement English language requirements for CDL holders.

Strong Response from the Governor's Office

"One-time television figure, now Secretary of Transportation, continues to misunderstand federal law," Newsom's office retorted in a last month's statement addressing the secretary's comments. "In the meantime, unlike this clown, we'll stick to the facts: The state's CDL holders had a accident mortality rate much lower than the U.S. average. The state of Texas – the sole state with additional licensed drivers – has a rate substantially higher than California. Data speaks for itself. The federal leadership misleads."

Voter Sentiment and Campaign Considerations

A recent survey revealed that nearly three-quarters of Democratic voters and almost half of voters said that the governor should run for president in the next election cycle. After the current administration began, Newsom's favorability has grown to an mean of 33.5% from previous levels, while his unfavorability has fallen from an average of previous highs to current figures.

In previous months, Newsom commented while traveling several key regions that he had "uncertainty" about his plans for the next presidential election.

He also referenced his earlier challenges, including being found to have a learning disability at the age of five.

"The idea that a individual who got 960 on his 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, amazing," he stated. "It's anyone's guess? I am eager to see who steps forward in the next election and who rises to the occasion. And that is the issue for the voters."