Poll: Kamala Harris leading in California governor's race but voters split on her running

If Kamala Harris does propulsion the trigger connected moving for politician of California aboriginal this twelvemonth she'd beryllium the apical contender, a caller canvass finds.

An Emerson College survey released Thursday shows 31% of Golden State voters who program to formed a ballot successful the June 2026 superior would enactment the erstwhile vice president implicit a wide-ranging field.

But California voters are evenly divided connected whether the 60-year-old Democrat, who mislaid past year's pivotal statesmanlike race, should participate the race. It shows 50% deliberation Harris should tally for politician portion the different fractional judge she shouldn't.

Harris is reportedly weighing her options which see a 3rd bid for president oregon a run to regenerate term-limited Gov. Gavin Newsom, a chap Democrat, who is besides imaginable 2028 White House contender himself.

No different candidates ace double-digits and a plurality of 39% are undecided, the canvass shows. The closest rival to Harris, who was doubly elected statewide arsenic lawyer wide and senator, is erstwhile Democratic Rep. Katie Porter who rakes successful 8% and Republican Riverside Sheriff Chad Bianco who holds 4%.

"How competitory the 2026 gubernatorial superior successful California depends connected whether oregon not Harris runs -- different candidacies, similar Katie Porter’s, are contingent connected whether oregon not the erstwhile vice president enters the race,” said Spencer Kimball, enforcement manager of Emerson College Polling.

Harris had kept a comparatively debased nationalist illustration since her gut-punch nonaccomplishment to President Donald Trump past fall, but she has remained active. This week, for instance, she sent retired a connection spotlighting Black Maternal Health Week, which seeks to rise consciousness astir Black women giving birth dying astatine higher rates than different radical and taste groups .

But earlier this period Harris popped backmost into the headlines with remarks that were looked astatine arsenic a not-so-subtle rebuke of Trump and his administration's actions since returning to bureau successful January.

"Fear is contagious and we are witnessing that nary uncertainty but I accidental this besides my beloved friends: courageousness is besides contagious," Harris said astatine an April 3 code astatine the Leading Women Defined Summit in California.

Harris volition reportedly marque a determination by the extremity of the summertime astir whether she volition tally for governor.

"We can't spell retired determination and bash conflict if we don't instrumentality attraction of ourselves and each other," she said astatine the summit. "Please instrumentality attraction of yourselves, beryllium blessed and I'll spot you different there. I'm not going anywhere."

Contributing: Joey Garrison

This nonfiction primitively appeared connected USA TODAY: Poll: California voters divided connected Kamala Harris moving for governor