Napa, CA – A new poll has revealed that former Vice President Kamala Harris would be the clear frontrunner in California’s 2026 race for governor if she decides to enter the contest. The survey, conducted by Emerson College Polling, Inside California Politics, and The Hill, found that nearly 6 in 10 Democratic primary voters in the state (57%) would support Harris in a hypothetical bid for the governorship.
The poll also shows that former Rep. Katie Porter, who left the House last year to run unsuccessfully for Senate, trails far behind with just 9% of support. Other potential candidates, including ex-Speaker of the California State Assembly Antonio Villaraigosa and current Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, garnered 4% each, while 17% of voters remained undecided.
Since losing her bid for the 2024 presidential nomination, Harris has been the subject of speculation about her future political plans. Many see an opportunity for her to succeed Gov. Gavin Newsom, who is term-limited and expected to pursue national ambitions. With her extensive background as California’s former attorney general and U.S. senator, as well as her national visibility, Harris is viewed by many as a strong contender for the state’s highest office.
However, Harris has yet to indicate any official interest in the gubernatorial race. On Friday, after visiting areas impacted by recent wildfires, she downplayed questions about her political future. “I have been home for two weeks and three days. My plans are to be in touch with my community, to be in touch with the leaders and figure out what I can do to support them,” Harris said, adding, “I am here and would be here regardless of the office I hold, because it is the right thing to do, which is to show up in your community and thank the folks who are on the ground.”
While Harris’s political future remains uncertain, the poll highlights her commanding position in the race should she choose to run. If Harris does not enter, however, the field for the Democratic primary remains wide open, with Porter’s support jumping to 21%, followed by Villaraigosa at 9% and Kounalakis at 5%. In that scenario, nearly half (45%) of Democratic voters remain undecided.
According to Spencer Kimball, executive director of Emerson College Polling, “If Vice President Harris enters the Democratic Primary, she would start as the clear favorite. Without Harris in the race, the primary is wide open.”
The polling was conducted between February 10-11, among 1,000 California registered voters, with a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points. Among the 469 Democratic primary voters, the margin of error was plus or minus 4.5 percentage points.