California Gov. Gavin Newsom said he expects to decide in early January whether to launch a campaign for the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination, providing a more specific timeline after previously declining to say when he would make a decision.

“I’ll make the determination at the beginning of the year,” Newsom said in an interview with Turkish state media while attending international climate meetings in Turkey. “So we’ll spend the next few weeks with the family and make a decision early January.”

Newsom has previously said the support of his four children would be a determining factor in whether he pursues the presidency. His latest comments indicate he intends to discuss the possibility with his family before announcing his plans.

The expected announcement would come as Newsom approaches the end of his second term as California governor in January 2027. His decision could also coincide with the early stages of a rapidly developing field of potential Democratic presidential contenders seeking to challenge the Republican nominee in 2028.

During the interview, Newsom also addressed the political consequences of the 2026 midterm elections, arguing that President Donald Trump's administration had suffered a significant setback and that Democrats now have an opportunity to present an alternative agenda.

“Donald Trump’s presidency as we know it ended last week in the U.S.,” Newsom said. “It was an historic rebuke of his tenure, and now it’s incumbent upon those that were successful to govern and to lead my party, the Democratic Party, and now has to set forth a positive alternative, agenda, to Donald Trump.”

Newsom has increasingly positioned himself as a prominent national Democratic figure, frequently criticizing the Trump administration and weighing in on issues beyond California. However, he has not formally announced a presidential campaign, and his early January timeline leaves several weeks of speculation before he makes a final decision.