California Gov. Newsom May Run for President After 2026 Midterms

California Gov. Gavin Newsom acknowledged he is seriously considering a 2028 presidential run—saying “I’d be lying otherwise”—but says he will make a final decision only after the 2026 midterm elections. He frames the midterms as pivotal, arguing Democrats regaining the House would “de facto” end President Trump’s current power and warning that a hostile House speaker could enable a de facto third term. Newsom has spent months building a national profile—campaigning in early states, hosting a podcast, and using provocative social media and merchandise like “The Patriot Shop”—even as critics say he sometimes prioritizes national ambitions over state business. He is the chief backer of California’s Proposition 50, a plan to allow state-initiated congressional redistricting to blunt Republican gerrymanders. Newsom has frequently clashed with Trump—suing over interstate National Guard deployments, condemning planned immigration enforcement in California, and using sharp rhetoric calling Trump an “invasive species” and a “wrecking ball.” Polling shows solid support among many California Democrats but weaker enthusiasm from independents and the broader electorate as voters weigh whether he should run.