California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s (D) popularity has grown among Democratic voters in recent months as he has emerged as a possible top contender for the party’s 2028 presidential nominee, according to a new poll that was released on Tuesday.
The new Morning Consult survey found that Newsom’s support among Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents has increased by 8 points, going from 11 percent in June to 19 percent in late August. In March, 5 percent of respondents backed Newsom, who has clashed with President Trump and Republicans over efforts to redraw congressional lines in Texas and tussled with the administration over his push to redraw California’s lines ahead of the 2026 midterms.
Still, former Vice President Kamala Harris topped the list at 29 percent support. But her support among respondents has fallen, going from 36 percent in March to 29 percent in August. About 22 percent chose “someone else,” while 15 percent did not select a favorite. Harris, who earlier this summer announced that she would not run to be the next governor of California, still has an 86 percent favorability rating among Democratic voters.
The pollster noted that Newsom was the only potential 2028 candidate who had made “significant” gains in the survey.
Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg was at 9 percent support, and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) garnered 6 percent support. Both figures were virtually unchanged since the March poll.
Other potential Democratic contenders were at 4 percent support or below, the poll found. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro garnered 4 percent support.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker garnered 3 percent support each. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer were both at 2 percent, while Maryland Gov. Wes Moore earned 1 percent, according to the survey.
Newsom’s standing with Generation X voters has gone up by 19 points. Among men and white voters, it increased by 15 points. The California governor’s support among Black voters had gone up by 7 points since March, but he is still far behind Harris, who is leading the potential candidates with 45 percent.
The survey was conducted Aug. 22-24 among 1,000 Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents each.
