California Governor Gavin Newsom is keeping the door open for a potential run for president, just not yet. In a recent interview on CBS News Sunday Morning, the Democratic leader said he plans to decide whether to launch a 2028 bid after the 2026 midterm elections.
“Yeah, I’d be lying otherwise,” Newsom said when asked if he’s considering a campaign for the White House. “I’d just be lying. And I’m not — I can’t do that.”
While Newsom’s term as governor ends in early 2027 and California’s term limits prevent him from running again, he emphasized that his focus remains on the state for now. “Fate will determine that,” he added, noting that any decision is still years away.
Over the past several years, Newsom has built a national profile as one of the Democratic Party’s most visible and outspoken governors. He’s positioned himself as both a defender of progressive values and a vocal critic of former President Donald Trump and his administration’s policies.
That outspokenness, particularly his recent push to challenge Republican redistricting through a California-backed ballot measure, has elevated his political standing while drawing ire from conservative opponents.
Newsom’s national popularity appears to be trending upward. A recent CBS poll found 72% of Democrats and 48% of registered voters think he should run for president in 2028.
When asked earlier this year about the idea of running, Newsom reflected on his personal journey, including his struggles with dyslexia and the obstacles that shaped his leadership style.
“The idea that a guy who got 960 on his SAT, that still struggles to read scripts, that was always in the back of the classroom… the idea that you would even throw that out is, in and of itself, extraordinary,” he told CBS.
Whether he officially enters the 2028 race or not, Newsom’s influence in national politics, from his climate leadership to his sharp rebuttals of conservative critics, ensures that he’ll remain a major player in the conversation about the Democratic Party’s future.
As he put it, “Who the hell knows? I’m looking forward to who presents themselves in 2028 and who meets that moment.”
