California’s New Governor Revealed

Kamala Harris, the former Vice President, would become the top contender for governor of California if she chose to enter the 2026 race, a recent poll reveals. According to a survey conducted by Emerson Polling, California Politics, and The Hill, nearly 60% of Democratic primary voters in California would back Harris for a potential gubernatorial bid. This strong support positions her as the front-runner in the race to succeed term-limited Governor Gavin Newsom.

In comparison, former Democrat Katie Porter, who left her congressional seat last year to run unsuccessfully for Senate, garnered only 9% support. Other possible contenders like retired Speaker of California Assembly, Antonio Villaraigosa, and current Lieutenant Governor, Eleni Kounalakis, received just 4% each. Another 17% of respondents were still undecided.

Harris, a former California Attorney General and U.S. Senator, has deep ties to the state, and her national recognition makes her a formidable figure in the Golden State. Speculation about her future after the 2024 presidential race has led many to believe she may aim for the governor’s mansion. Although she hasn’t formally announced any intentions to run, Harris recently dismissed questions regarding her political future, focusing instead on engaging with her community and supporting local leaders.

However, the poll also revealed what might happen if Harris decides not to run. If Harris were absent from the race, support for Porter surged to 21%, with Villaraigosa securing 9%, and Kounalakis at 5%. A large portion of Democratic voters, 45%, remained undecided, signaling that the race would be wide open without Harris’ dominance.

Spencer Kimball, the executive director of Emerson College Polling, emphasized that Harris would be the clear favorite if she entered the primary, but without her, the field remains uncertain and competitive. The survey, conducted between February 10-11, 2025, included 1,000 registered California voters, with a margin of error of 3%. For the 469 Democratic voters surveyed, the margin of error increased to 4.5%.

This polling suggests that while Harris remains a strong presence in California politics, her absence could ignite a fierce battle among other Democratic hopefuls for the governor’s seat.