California Governor Gavin Newsom seems to be gaining traction among Democratic voters as he emerges as a leading contender for the 2028 presidential race, according to a recent opinion poll released on Tuesday.
The latest Morning Consult Survey indicates that Newsom’s support among Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents increased by 8 percentage points, rising from 11% in June to 19% in late August. In March, he was backed by just 5% of respondents. He has also been vocal against President Trump and Republicans regarding their attempts to redraw congressional district lines in Texas, while advocating for changes in California’s boundaries ahead of the mid-2026 elections.
Although Newsom’s rise is notable, former Vice President Kamala Harris maintains the top position with 29% support, albeit down from 36% in March. About 22% of respondents opted for “someone else,” and 15% did not express a preference. Even though she announced earlier this summer that she wouldn’t run for California governor, Harris enjoys a high approval rating of 86% among Democratic voters.
Pollsters observed that Newsom is the only candidate in the 2028 race to show a “significant” increase in support in this survey.
Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg garnered 9%, while Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez received 6%. Both of these numbers have remained relatively stable since March.
Other potential Democratic candidates trailed below 4%, with Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro at 4%. Meanwhile, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker each had 3% support. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer had 2%, and Maryland Governor Wes Moore managed only 1%.
Interestingly, Newsom’s standing among Generation X voters saw an uptick of 19 points. Support among male and white voters rose by 15 points, while his approval rating among Black voters increased by seven points since March; however, he remains significantly behind Harris, who holds 45% among that demographic.
This survey was conducted between August 22 and 24, involving 1,000 Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents.
