Former Vice President Kamala Harris is emerging as the clear frontrunner should she decide to enter the 2026 California gubernatorial race, according to a new poll. The survey, conducted by Inside California Politics in partnership with Emerson College, found that Harris enjoys substantial early support among voters.
Out of 1,000 registered California voters polled, 31% said they would back Harris if she runs for governor, KTLA5 reported. Democratic Representative Katie Porter followed distantly with 8% support, while Republican Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco came in third at 4%. The poll featured 18 hypothetical candidates in the Democratic-leaning state’s anticipated June 2026 primary.
Spencer Kimball, Director of Emerson College Polling, noted Harris’s potential impact on the race, stating, “How competitive the 2026 gubernatorial primary in California is depends on whether Harris runs.” Kimball emphasized that other candidates’ viability, such as Porter’s, is contingent on Harris’s decision. “Harris garners 49% of Democrats, while Porter gets 13%. Without Harris in the race, Porter’s support among Democrats rises to 21%,” he said.
Despite leading the field, voter opinion is split on whether Harris should enter the race at all. Respondents were evenly divided, with 50% in favor and 50% against her candidacy.
The survey also touched on other political sentiments in the state. Regarding current Governor Gavin Newsom’s potential presidential bid in 2028, a majority of voters—59%—said he should not run, while 41% supported the idea. Opinions broke sharply along party lines: 61% of Democrats favored a Newsom run, while 78% of Republicans and 75% of independents opposed it.
The poll also gauged views on broader topics such as Donald Trump’s trade policies and the upcoming Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, offering a snapshot of California voters’ mood ahead of key political contests.
With the field still shaping up, all eyes remain on Harris, whose entry could dramatically alter the race’s trajectory.
