Gavin Newsom’s new podcast appears to be harming the public perception of the California governor, according to a poll.
A survey of 1,000 California voters conducted by Capitol Weekly found that 26 percent said their view of Newsom worsened after hearing clips from his recent podcast interview with conservative commentator Charlie Kirk. Meanwhile, 13 percent said the podcast improved their perception of the Democratic governor, with 58 percent saying it made no difference.
The survey’s sampling dates and margin of error were not publicly disclosed.
Newsweek has contacted Capitol Weekly and Newsom’s office for comment via email.
Why It Matters
Newsom’s move into podcasting was seen as an effort to broaden his appeal amid ongoing speculation about a possible 2028 White House bid. The poll suggests that Newsom may risk backlash from liberal and left-wing voters while attempting to engage with MAGA figures such as Kirk and Steve Bannon on his show.
What to Know
The governor’s new podcast, This Is Gavin Newsom, featured a lengthy conversation with Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA and a top ally of President Donald Trump.
After the March 6 episode aired, Capitol Weekly, which describes itself as a nonprofit outlet covering California politics,played three clips from the podcast to 1,000 voters in the state and asked their opinions. (The episode with Steve Bannon was released on March 12)
The clips featured Newsom and Kirk discussing the use of pronouns in meetings and the term “Latinx,” Newsom’s objections to trans women competing in women’s sports and Kirk joking with Newsom about California’s school closures during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Newsom’s favorability rating has also dropped since launching his podcast. A Capitol Weekly poll conducted in early February found that 52 percent of voters viewed Newsom favorably, while 48 percent had an unfavorable opinion, giving him a net favorability score of plus 4 points.
In the latest survey, Newsom’s favorability rating fell to 47 percent, with his net favorability score dropping to minus 6 points.
The first clip played for respondents featured Newsom describing how his 13-year-old son wanted to take a day off school to meet Kirk. Newsom said he did not allow his son to skip school, to which Kirk responded: “You canceled school for like two years, what’s one more day?”
One “very liberal” woman reacted positively, saying it was “nice to see politicians treat each other like real humans.”
A moderate female Democrat added “I hate what Kirk stands for” and said she “can’t believe” he was Newsom’s first guest.
Overall, 43 percent of poll respondents viewed the clip negatively, 21 percent were neutral, and 34 percent responded positively.
The second clip features Newsom saying how “not one person ever in my office” has used the gender neutral term “Latinx,” asking “where did that even come from?” Newsom added he has only ever had one meeting where people “started going round the table” and stated their preferred pronouns.
This clip was viewed negatively by 57 percent of respondents, while 20 percent reacted positively and 21 percent were neutral.
One male Democrat said the clip showed Newsom is “moving toward a new center. It’s not a direction I prefer, but it’s better than staring up at the rain.” A Republican voter commented that Newsom “will swing in whatever direction is good for him.”
The final clip showed Newsom saying it is “deeply unfair” for trans women to compete in female sports. He added that Kirk and other Republicans were able to “weaponize” the issue in recent years and criticized how “people talk down to vulnerable communities,” referencing mental health and suicide rates among those being targeted.
This clip received the most negative reaction (63 percent), while 20 percent viewed it positively and 16 percent were neutral.
“Newsom had an opportunity to denounce transgender participation in sports but did not have the courage to do so,” one Republican voter said.
An independent voter praised Newsom’s response, saying: “He’s trying to show that he’s able to actually use common sense rather than just follow Democratic woke nonsense.”
The poll found that almost none of the 1,000 respondents (0.057 percent) had already listened to Newsom’s podcast. A majority of California voters (58 percent) said they were unlikely to listen in the future.
What People Are Saying
Republican political strategist Mike Madrid told Capitol Weekly: “The media terrain has shifted. Newsom is adapting. And if my source is right, he’s not running for president—he’s positioning himself for something even bigger. And he may just be giving Democrats a fighting chance.”
A Republican California voter told Capitol Weekly: “I wish he would focus on the needs of his constituents instead of trying to build a base for a presidential run. We have the highest food, gas, and utility costs in the country. We have fire-related insurance issues. We have water infrastructure issues. Focus on the issues.”
A Democratic California voter added: “It’s clear he’s going after a national audience for a presidential run, and I suppose it’s a good media strategy.”
Steven Maviglio, a Sacramento-based Democratic strategist, told The Washington Post: “I can’t comprehend what he’s trying to accomplish if he’s going to run for president as a Democrat. How do you win over Democratic voters by coddling the ultra-right?”
What Happens Next
Newsom has not announced who his next podcast guest will be, nor confirmed if he is running for president in the 2028 election. The governor will leave office at the end of his second and final term in January 2027.
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