California Governor Gavin Newsom has quickly become one of the most influential leaders in national politics. He has garnered national attention for his fiery rebukes of the Trump administration. Newsom has utilized his social media platforms to express his dissent, positioning himself as a high-profile opponent of former President Donald Trump’s policies and actions. As he has charted his course through the final months of his current tenure, speculation has swirled about a possible run for the presidency, again, in 2028.
In response to Republican redistricting efforts, Newsom has pushed for a ballot measure aimed at increasing the number of congressional seats held by Democrats. This historic initiative is testimony to his ambition to continue to mold California’s political landscape despite continuing partisan storms. Those actions placed him squarely in the sights of his critics. Sean Duffy, Trump’s former Secretary of Transportation, is one such critic.
Duffy, for his part, has continually charged Newsom with failing to prioritize the needs of Californians—specifically when it comes to obtaining a commercial driver’s license. He has threatened to withhold $40 million in federal funds from California unless the state enforces English language requirements for truck drivers. Duffy’s proposal would rescind California’s Congressional authority to issue commercial driver’s licenses. As such, he contends, the state’s regulations are not as stringent as federal requirements.
In the shadow of all these controversies, Gavin Newsom’s leadership has paid off in significant ways. California’s commercial driver’s license holders have consistently had a fatal crash rate almost 40% lower than the national average. And these days the so-called “Texas model” is frequently touted as a great template for deregulating the trucking industry. Its fatal crash rate is almost 50% worse than California’s.
Due to term limits, Newsom’s tenure as governor will conclude in January 2027. During his career, he has been confronted with issues at home. He was diagnosed with dyslexia at the age of five, a condition he has been vocal about. Reflecting on his experiences, Newsom stated, “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.”
As he looks toward a possible presidential run after the 2026 elections, Newsom is still not fully committing to that rosy scenario just yet. Who the f*** knows, to be honest? I can’t wait to see who comes around in 2028 and is up to that moment. That’s the fundamental question for the American people,” he said.
Despite facing opposition from figures like Duffy, Newsom continues to engage with constituents and navigate the complexities of his role as governor. His actions signal a willingness to address both local and national issues while keeping an eye on future political opportunities.