A Justice Department investigation into California Governor Gavin Newsom and his wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, has garnered mixed reactions among Democrats, with more than one-quarter of the party's voters expressing some level of support for the probe, according to a recent poll.
The investigation, which Newsom has characterized as a politically motivated "witch hunt" aimed at derailing his potential 2028 presidential bid, reportedly stems from whistleblower complaints regarding potential tax issues associated with Siebel Newsom's non-profit organizations. The specifics of the probe and any future actions remain undisclosed by the Justice Department or the governor's office.
A Daily Mail/JL Partners survey of 1,059 registered national voters found that 27% of Democratic voters either 'strongly support' or 'somewhat support' the investigation. Among these, 13% indicated strong support, and 14% expressed some support. Conversely, 39% of Democratic voters stated they either 'strongly oppose' or 'somewhat oppose' the investigation, while 32% remained neutral or unsure.
Among independent voters, support for the investigation was higher, with 43% expressing either strong or some support. Unsurprisingly, Republican voters showed the strongest backing, with 70% indicating some level of support for the Justice Department's inquiry.
Newsom, a prominent critic of former President Donald Trump, has publicly denounced the investigation, suggesting it is part of a pattern of Trump seeking to target political adversaries. "Donald Trump isn't just coming after me because of my mean tweets," Newsom stated in a social media video. "He's coming after me because I am considering running for president."
As the 2028 presidential election cycle begins to take shape, potential Democratic contenders are being considered. The same Daily Mail/JL Partners poll indicated that 29% of registered Democratic voters would support former Vice President Kamala Harris in a hypothetical 2028 matchup. Harris led Newsom, who garnered 15% support, by a 14-point margin in the survey of 1,040 registered voters. Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg ranked third among likely Democratic voters with 11% support.
More broadly, the poll suggests a potential openness among US voters to electing a Democratic candidate for higher office, as Democratic candidates held an 8-point lead in a hypothetical midterm election scenario.