California Governor Gavin Newsom’s support among Democratic voters surged in another poll of the 2028 presidential primary.
Newsweek reached out to Newsom’s office for comment via email.
Why It Matters
Newsom is viewed as a potential presidential candidate among Democrats, and his visits this summer to early-voting states like South Carolina have further fueled speculation that he plans to run in 2028. The election is still years away, but recent surveys suggest more Democratic voters are leaning toward Newsom.
The governor garnered national attention for engaging in high-profile battles with President Donald Trump and Republicans. This includes his efforts to redraw his state’s congressional boundaries in response to Texas Republicans’ plan for mid-decade redistricting, opposition to Trump’s attempts to federalize the National Guard to quell protests in Los Angeles earlier this summer and social media trolling on X.
Some Democrats believe Newsom is meeting calls to fight back harder against Republicans following frustration among the party’s voter base over what many viewed as a feeble response to the Trump administration.
What To Know
A new poll from Morning Consult shows how Newsom’s support has grown in the primary field over the past few months. The poll found that 19 percent of Democrats plan to support the governor, compared to 11 percent in June and 5 percent in March.
Meanwhile, former Vice President Kamala Harris’ support has slipped from 36 percent to 29 percent, the poll found.
The pollster noted that other potential candidates, including Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a New York Democrat who is a favorite among progressives, and former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, have “virtually the same level of backing as they had in our first look this year.”
Newsom’s support has grown amid a 19-point increase in support among Gen X and a 15-point increase among white voters and men, according to the poll. His support among Black voters has also increased by 7 percent, though Harris still holds 45 percent support among Black voters.
The poll surveyed 1,000 Democratic and Democratic-leaning independent voters from August 22 to August 24, 2025.
Other polls have also shown an increase in Newsom’s support this summer.
An Echelon Insights poll, which surveyed 1,057 registered voters from August 14 to August 18, showed him with 13 percent, up from 4 percent in April. Harris still had the support of a majority of Democratic voters, with 26 percent backing her.
An AtlasIntel poll, which surveyed 1,435 adults from July 13 to July 18, showed him with 16 percent support, up from 7 percent in May. Still, that poll showed Buttigieg at 27 percent and Ocasio-Cortez at 19 percent. Harris received 14 percent support in that poll.
What People Are Saying
California Governor Gavin Newsom told The Wall Street Journal in June: “I’m not thinking about running, but it’s a path that I could see unfold.”
CNN’s Harry Enten said in an August 20 X post: “Newsom’s social media strategy/opposition to Trump is working. He’s gained millions of social media followers. Google searches for him are up like a rocket. He’s now the frontrunner for the 2028 Dem nomination per the prediction markets. It’s cause Democrats want a fighter.”
President Donald Trump told reporters in June: “He’s done a terrible job. I like Gavin Newsom. He’s a nice guy, but he’s grossly incompetent, everybody knows.”
What Happens Next
Typically, candidates don’t make campaign announcements until after the midterms, and Newsom’s second term as governor will end at the start of 2027. A multitude of prominent Democrats are expected to run. Until then, polls will continue to be monitored to gauge Americans’ views on potential presidential candidates.
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