‘I’d be lying’: Newsom teases 2028 presidential race as California continues to suffer from democracy control
California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Sunday on CBS that he will consider a possible bid for his party’s 2028 presidential nomination after the 2026 midterm elections.
Despite earlier speculation Newsom could be a leading contender for the Democratic nomination, the California governor remained evasive until Sunday. During an interview on CBS’s “Sunday Morning,” national correspondent Robert Costa observed Newsom “shooting shots behind the coffee shop” while touring South Carolina, noting that “this guy could run for president.”
“The idea that a guy who got a 960 on his SAT, who still struggled to read scripts, who was always at the back of the class, the idea that you throw away even that is extraordinary in itself,” Newsom said. “Who the hell knows? I look forward to whoever shows up in 2028 and who meets that moment, and that’s the question before the American people.”
Costa continued to press Newsom for a possible candidacy, asking whether it would be “fair to say” that the Democratic lawmaker was going to “think seriously about it” after the 2026 midterm elections.
“Yeah, I would lie otherwise,” Newsom responded. “I would just lie, and I can’t do that.”
While Newsom has faced criticism from California voters for years over his policies, including on crime and homelessness, the governor has faced increased scrutiny in the wake of the disastrous Los Angeles County wildfires. The incident, which affected the communities of Pacific Palisades and Altadena, caused thousands of homes to burn and hundreds of residents to be displaced. (RELATED: ‘He Slut on the Internet’: Anna Paulina Luna Says Gavin Newsom Has Feminine Energy)
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Newsom has opposed some progressive policies in recent months, facing pushback from his own party after saying biological males competing in women’s sports was “profoundly unfair.” California, however, continues to face high rates of homelessness and crime, in addition to the government’s growing role in education.
Despite criticism from his own voters, Newsom appears to continue to focus on his opposition to the Trump administration.
In February 2025, the Democratic governor launched a podcast, and his press office subsequently escalated its attacks on President Donald Trump and other Republicans. But even with his online presence, many Californians remain skeptical of his leadership and priorities.
An April 2025 Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies poll found that 54% of 6,201 registered voters surveyed think Newsom is “doing things that could benefit him as a potential presidential candidate,” while only 26% think he is “governing the state and helping to solve its problems.”
When Costa asked if he was “getting closer” to “understanding” his own “why” — which could compel him to formally launch a campaign in 2028 — Newsom responded by quoting German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche.
“Yes, Nietzsche said that if you have a compelling “why,” you can endure any “how.” So I don’t think so, I think the biggest challenge for anyone running for office is people seeing through you if you don’t know why. You’re doing it for the wrong reasons,” Newsom said. “Look, this faith will determine that.”
An October 2025 Emerson College poll found that in a hypothetical matchup between Newsom and Vice President J.D. Vance, 46% support Vance, 45% support Newsom, and 10% remain undecided. The poll indicates that since July, Newsom has gained three points, while Vance has gained one.
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