How Californians REALLY feel about Kamala Harris running for governor (2025)

A new poll shows that California political elites are not thrilled by the idea of former Vice President Kamala Harris returning to Golden State and running for California governor.

Harris lost the presidential election in 2024 and returned to her home in California with her husband Doug Emhoff, but has not indicated what she plans to do with her political future.

Politico California published a poll of 'policy influencers' conducted in tandem with UC Berkeley's Citrin Center as well as regular voters in the state.

Influencers were reportedly 'notably blasé' about the possibility of Harris becoming the next governor of California, according to Politico citing 36 percent of them choosing 'indifferent' to describe their feelings about the idea.

Twenty-two percent of influencers said they would feel 'mostly excited,' while 20 percent selected 'irritated.'

The 'influencer' sample was drawn from Californians who subscribe to Politico's premium journalism platform and lawmakers and staffers in the state and federal government, according to Politico.

Registered Democratic voters in the state were more warm to the idea.

Thirty-three percent of registered voters in the poll revealed feeling joyful about her possible candidacy and 41 percent feeling “mostly excited." About a quarter of regular voters were indifferent.

Independent voters in the poll are more skeptical of the idea as 26 percent said they felt irritated by the prospect and 21 percent selected 'hopeless.'

Significant margins of voters were more skeptical including 18 percent of Asian American voters in the polls chose “irritated” to describe their reaction while 19 percent of Latinos felt 'hopeless' about the idea.

Harris remains non-committal about entering the 2026 race, as advisors say she is taking her time about making decisions about her political future.

The former vice president still maintains popularity in California despite the nationwide rejection of voters in swing statesand her loss of the popular vote against Trump.

Former Biden HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra announced his decision to run for the position, as the highest-ranking Democratic political figure in the state.

'I watched my parents — a construction worker and a clerical worker — achieve the California dream,' Becerra said in his announcement video in early April. 'Can we do that today with this affordability crisis?'

The former secretary emphasized his record as Attorney General of California, reminding voters he took on the first administration of President Donald Trump in court.

'[I]'ve taken on these tough fights,' he said. 'We can do that, but you need a leader who can be tough.'

If Becerra wins, he would be the state’s first Latino governor in 150 years.

Becerra's entrance into the race suggests he is not worried that Harris will run for governor or that he can still be a competitive candidate if she does.

Other potential candidates are waiting for Harris to reveal her intentions before making their decision.

The Democratic primary for the race is scheduled for June 2, 2026, with the general election scheduled for November.

Harris has always been popular in California, easily beating Democratic challengers in her race for Attorney General and her race for Senator of California.

Her 2020 race for president, however, failed spectacularly as she ended her campaign before the Iowacaucuses and the California primary.

After losing her presidential campaign, Harris organized some of her trusted aides into the organization Pioneer49, while she explores her political future.

Harris and Newsom have long been considered 'frenemies' in California, each trying to avoid competing with each other in political races.

Both candidates were considering a run for California governor in 2016, but ultimately went in different directions.

Newsom chose to run for governor of California while Harris ran for the state's Senate seat to replace the retiring Sen. Barbara Boxer.

Harris could finally face Newsom in the 2028 Democratic presidential primary, if she chooses to run again for president after coming up short in 2024.

The former vice president warned of the 'flames on our horizons,' the 'rising waters in our cities,' and 'the shadows gathering over our democracy,' during a speech to the NAACP in February.

'Our strength flows from our faith — faith in God, faith in each other, and our refusal to surrender to cynicism and destruction,' she said. 'Not because it is easy, but because it is necessary. Not because victory is guaranteed, but because the fight is worth it.'