Poll Shows Plunging Enthusiasm for Newsom and Harris Presidential Bids in California

A recent poll conducted by UC Berkeley's Citrin Center for Public Opinion Research in partnership with Politico reveals a significant drop in enthusiasm for potential 2028 presidential bids by California Governor Gavin Newsom and Vice President Kamala Harris among the state's voters.

According to the poll, only 37 percent of registered California voters expressed excitement about a Newsom presidential run, an 11-percentage-point decrease from 48 percent in March. Harris saw a steeper decline, with just 28 percent of registered voters supporting another presidential campaign by her, down 13 points from 41 percent in March.

The survey also indicated that Newsom garners more enthusiasm among Democrats and voters who lean Democratic. Sixty-one percent of this group said they would be excited about a Newsom presidential bid, while 39 percent stated they would not be. Harris received less enthusiasm from the same demographic, with 55 percent expressing a lack of excitement about another White House campaign.

When asked to compare the two Californians' prospects for a hypothetical 2028 campaign, 49 percent of surveyed Democrats believed Newsom would have a better chance of securing the Democratic presidential nomination, compared to 10 percent who felt the same about Harris. The gap widened when respondents were asked about general election prospects. Fifty-nine percent of Democrats surveyed thought Newsom would be more likely to win a general election, while only 9 percent believed Harris would be more likely to prevail.

These findings offer an early look at voter sentiment regarding two prominent California Democrats, with the 2028 presidential election still over two years away. In a recent interview with CNN, Newsom stated that he would not run for president if Harris were to enter the race, indicating her decision would be a key factor in his own potential candidacy. Harris has continued to keep the possibility of a presidential run open and has been increasing her public campaign activities in support of midterm elections.