California Democrats are sending a clear message — and it’s not good news for Kamala Harris.
A new UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies poll shows the former vice president drawing just 9% support as a first-choice candidate for the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination in her home state.
That puts Harris behind Gov. Gavin Newsom, who leads with 28%, as well as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.
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Even Newsom’s position at the top comes with warning signs.
Polling at 28% in his own state, Newsom is far from dominant. “Receiving support from only roughly a quarter of those in the Golden State is worrying,” Berkeley IGS Poll director Mark DiCamillo told the Los Angeles Times.
The governor’s standing appears to be slipping.
Just 48% of Californians approve of the job Newsom is doing, down from 51% in August. His disapproval rating has also climbed by five percentage points.
The gap between Newsom and Harris widens further when second-choice voters are factored in.
Newsom draws 42% combined support, while Harris lags at just 20%.
The survey — conducted March 9 to 14 among 5,019 registered voters — carries a margin of error of plus or minus 2.5 percentage points.
Neither candidate has formally declared a 2028 run.
Newsom is term-limited and set to leave office after the 2026 election. Harris is currently on her “107 Days” book tour following her loss to President Donald Trump in the 2024 election.
That loss continues to cast a shadow.
Harris has pointed to limited campaign time as a factor in her defeat. But this latest polling suggests Democratic voters — even in her own backyard — may already be looking elsewhere.
In California, the verdict is early — but unmistakable.
The home crowd isn’t cheering.
More over at The New York Post:
Kamala Harris bombs in humiliating new poll – but it’s also bad news for Gavin Newsom https://t.co/moywfXt3Cb pic.twitter.com/rCw9kq5glR
— New York Post (@nypost) March 20, 2026
