The Democratic governor of California Gavin Newsom said in an interview broadcast today that he is considering running for president in 2028 but will decide after the 2026 midterm elections.

This year Newsom has taken some steps to consider whether he could contend for the Democratic nomination and has emerged as a prominent figure in the party, pitted against the president Donald Trump on a range of topics.

“I can’t wait to see” who will claim the anointing when the time comes, Newsom said on CBS’ “Sunday Morning.”

When asked if he thinks so, he replied: “Yes, it would be a lie if I said otherwise.”

Trump is prohibited by the US Constitution from running for a third term, but he has not ruled it out. Earlier this year he said “there are ways he could do it”.

Newsom has put California at the forefront of Democrats’ effort to redistrict to offset similar efforts in Republican-held states as the two parties seek to secure control of the House of Representatives in the 2026 election. Republicans currently hold a narrow majority in that chamber.

The governor has also clashed with Trump over his decision to deploy the military to Los Angeles.