A recent survey shows a lacklustre response from California’s political class to Kamala Harris potentially entering the state’s gubernatorial race. The poll, jointly conducted by Politico and UC Berkeley’s Citrin Center, engaged registered California voters and a selected group of policy insiders including lawmakers and staffers from both state and federal levels.
Among the policy influencers surveyed, 36% said they would be “indifferent” if Harris ran for governor. Meanwhile, 22% expressed they would be “mostly excited,” 20% would feel “irritated,” and just 4% admitted they’d be “outraged” by the move.
Public sentiment was similarly split. One-third of California’s registered voters reported they would feel “joy” at Harris launching a gubernatorial campaign. However, independent voters showed more scepticism, with 26% saying they would be “irritated” and 21% stating they felt “hopeless” at the prospect.
Sentiment varied further across demographic groups. Among Latino voters, 19% described feeling “hopeless” about Harris running for governor, while 18% of Asian voters surveyed said they were “irritated” by the idea.
Though Kamala Harris has not officially declared her candidacy for California governor, she has committed to staying active in the political sphere following her defeat to Donald Trump in the 2024 US presidential race. Reports suggest she may also be considering a return to the presidential arena in 2028.
Harris became the Democratic nominee for president in 2024 after President Joe Biden stepped aside following a poor debate showing against Trump. As discussions about her political future continue, reactions within her home state remain anything but unanimous.
