In an exclusive interview, California Gov. Gavin Newsom says he intends to give “serious thought” to a presidential run after the 2026 midterm elections, signaling a major step toward a possible 2028 campaign.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a Sunday interview that he will seriously consider a presidential run in 2028 once the 2026 midterm elections have concluded. In the interview on CBS News Sunday Morning, Newsom was asked whether it would be fair to say he would give a campaign “serious thought” after the November 2026 vote.
He responded, “Yeah, I’d be lying otherwise. I’d just be lying. And I’m not—I can’t do that.”
Newsom’s remarks mark one of the clearest public acknowledgments yet of his presidential ambitions. As the two-term governor of California, who is barred from re-election in January 2027, he has in recent years elevated his national profile, stepping into battleground states and recasting himself as a vocal critic of President Donald Trump.
He told CBS News: “I’m looking forward to who presents themselves in 2028 and who meets that moment. And that’s the question for the American people.”
The governor also stressed that the decision is years away and subject to change, saying simply, “Fate will determine that.”
His open admission comes as another Californian, former Vice President Kamala Harris, has also signaled interest in a 2028 run.
In the meantime, Newsom is focused on state matters, such as the ballot measure Proposition 50, which would grant California lawmakers temporary control over gerrymandering U.S. House districts—an initiative he champions as part of a broader strategy to challenge efforts in other states to redraw congressional maps.
The implications are clear: Newsom’s intent to run creates both an opportunity and a warning. If he mounts a viable bid, Republicans should prepare for another West Coast progressive politician, with a questionable political track record, attempting to shift national policy settings.
