California Gov. Gavin Newsom told “CBS News Sunday Morning” that he would be “lying” if he denied plans to consider a presidential bid.
Asked whether it would be fair to say he would “seriously consider” running for president after the midterm elections, the governor agreed.
“Yes, otherwise I would be lying,” said Newsom, a Democrat. “I would just lie, and I can’t do that.”
Newsom has become a leading voice of opposition to President Donald Trump, criticizing the administration's handling of issues such as National Guard deployments and immigration raids. He is ineligible to run for re-election as governor in 2026 due to term limits.
His comments come as Democrats struggle to find a path forward amid low approval ratings. With Republicans in control of the White House, House of Representatives and Senate, this year's survey indicated that most Democratic voters want Democrats in Congress to stick to their positions rather than seek compromise.
The governor previously stated that he would need “Whyif he decided to run for president.
Asked by CBS News if he was closer to finding a reason to run—his “why”—Newsom said that if one has a “compelling why,” then any “how” can be sustained.
“I think the biggest problem for anyone running for office is that people see right through you. If you don't have that 'why,' then you're doing it for the wrong reasons,” he said.
“Fate will determine that,” he added.
Other potential candidates for the 2028 election have begun to express their willingness to run for president. During BBC interview On Saturday, former Vice President Kamala Harris appeared to open the door to a new campaign. After Harris said her nieces would see a female president in their lifetime, she was asked if it could be her.
“Maybe,” Harris said, also saying during the interview that “I’m not done yet.”
Newsom has vigorously resisted the Trump administration, frequently ridiculing the president on social media, while the state government has sued the president for some National Guard moves. The Trump administration, in turn, has targeted California, sending National Guard and Marine troops to Los Angeles following protests over immigration raids.
The governor also sparred with Republicans over redistricting. After the GOP's unconventional redistricting in Texas in mid-decade to boost Republicans' chances in the 2026 midterm elections, he pushed California to oppose its own redistricting plan to favor Democrats. Republican redistricting efforts have since spread across the country.
Newsom was first elected governor in 2018. He previously served as lieutenant governor of the state and mayor of San Francisco.
