Gavin Newsom's 2028 Presidential Hopes Dim as Polls Show Rising Support for AOC, Buttigieg, and Harris
A new poll indicates a shift in Democratic presidential contender favorability, with California Governor Gavin Newsom seeing a decline in support.
California Governor Gavin Newsom is experiencing a decline in support for a potential 2028 presidential bid, according to a recent poll, while other Democratic figures like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, and former Vice President Kamala Harris show increasing favorability.
The latest Bowling Green State University/YouGov poll places Newsom in third place among potential Democratic nominees, garnering 14% support. This puts him behind Kamala Harris, who leads with 17%, and Pete Buttigieg at 16%. In February, Newsom had held the top position in a similar YouGov poll and had consistently been among the top two contenders alongside Harris.
Newsom has stated that he would not launch a White House campaign if Harris, also from California, decides to run, citing potential for “mutually assured destruction.”
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) is showing notable momentum in the latest poll, tying Newsom for third place with 14% support. Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ) follows with 10%.
Ocasio-Cortez has previously indicated she has not ruled out a 2028 presidential run, though her immediate focus is on the 2026 midterm elections. Buttigieg has also seen his support grow over the past year, coinciding with Newsom's dip. Kelly has been actively raising his profile by visiting early voting states.
The September poll surveyed 1,200 registered US voters and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.3 percentage points. The poll did not include Senator Jon Ossoff (D-GA), who has shown favorable polling in other surveys.
Representatives for Harris, Newsom, Ocasio-Cortez, Buttigieg, and Kelly did not immediately respond to requests for comment.