California Governor Gavin Newsom’s Rising Support Among Democrats

California’s Governor Gavin Newsom appears to be gaining traction with Democratic voters, raising his profile as a potential contender for the 2028 presidential nomination, based on a recent poll.

The findings from Morning Consult, released on Tuesday, indicated an eight-point boost in Newsom’s support among Democrats and left-leaning independents, increasing from 11% in June to 19% in late August.

In contrast, former Vice President Kamala Harris, who struggled in the 2024 presidential race, saw a decrease from 36% in March to 29% in August.

Most other Democratic hopefuls received less than 10% in support according to the surveys.

• Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg: 9%

• Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez: 6%

• Governor Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania: 4%

During the 107-day presidential campaign, Harris’ running mate, Governor Tim Walz of Minnesota, and Governor J.B. Pritzker of Illinois each garnered only 3% support, while Governors Andy Beshear of Kentucky and Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan received 2% each.

Lastly, Governor Wes Moore of Maryland saw a mere 1% backing.

Interestingly, research indicates that Newsom’s popularity among Generation X has increased by 19 points, which plays a significant role in his overall support. Also noteworthy is the 15-point rise in support from male and white voters, with black voters showing a 7-point increase since March.

In June, Newsom had hinted at a possible presidential run, stating, “I’m not thinking about running, but that’s the path I can unfold,” as quoted in the Wall Street Journal.

The survey conducted by Morning Consult assessed 1,000 Democrats and left-leaning independents between August 22nd and 24th.