California Poll: Newsom's Presidential Ambitions, Governor's Approval, and 2026 Primary Outlook

California Governor's Race Outlook

• 📊 A new poll indicates that Kamala Harris is the frontrunner for the June 2026 California gubernatorial primary, leading with 31% if she enters the race.
• 💡 If Harris does not run, the race becomes more open, with Katie Porter seeing a slight increase to 12%, and a significant 54% of voters remaining undecided.
• 🔑 Name recognition is identified as a major factor for Harris, giving her a substantial lead over other potential candidates.

Gavin Newsom's Approval and Presidential Run

• 📉 Governor Gavin Newsom has an approval rating of 33%, with 42% disapproving of his job performance.
• ❌ A significant majority of California voters, 59%, believe Newsom should not run for president, while only 41% support the idea.
• 🗣️ Despite efforts to reach out to conservatives, including hosting guests like Charlie Kirk and Steve Bannon on his podcast, Newsom's attempts to build broader appeal appear to be unsuccessful among his home state constituents.

Key Issues Facing California Voters

• 💰 The economy remains the top issue for California voters, cited by 40% of respondents.
• 🏠 Housing affordability is the second most significant issue, impacting 24% of voters, and is a concern across all age groups.
• 📈 Combined, the economy and housing affordability are top concerns for approximately two-thirds of the electorate.

Voter Views on Tariffs and Market Volatility

• 🛒 60% of voters believe tariffs act as a tax on consumers, with 22% viewing them as a tax on foreign countries.
• 📉 There is widespread concern about recent stock market volatility, with 44% of all voters being very concerned.
• 📊 Democrats show significantly higher concern about market volatility (58% very concerned) compared to Republicans (25% very concerned).