Overview
- In a CBS interview, he said he would be “lying” to claim the presidency was not on his mind.
- He indicated an announcement would wait until after the 2026 congressional elections.
- His second term ends in 2027 under California law, leaving him unable to seek another term as governor.
- He has been visiting early-primary states such as South Carolina as he builds national visibility.
- His profile has been sharpened by public fights with President Donald Trump, including a state lawsuit over the deployment of the California National Guard in Los Angeles, as Democrats weigh a 2028 field that could also feature Kamala Harris, J. B. Pritzker, Andy Beshear, and Josh Shapiro.