Having experienced defeat at the hands of Donald Trump for the position of U.S. President, many are left puzzling over the uncertain future awaiting Kamala Harris. This one-time VP contender born in the northern part of California finds her political path meandering towards an unexpected optional destination: the governor’s office in the year 2026. However, it’s important to underplay the weight these speculations hold, as no formal announcements have been made regarding her potential candidacy.
In the bustling world of politics, the winds of conjecture often change quickly. A new poll emerged on Wednesday this week, claiming to present an overview of the voters’ inclinations. But as we dig into the details, it falls short of convincingly endorsing Harris as a possibly successful contender for the governor’s seat.
The polling by Berkeley IGS presented the participants with a roster, comprising of 9 Democrats and 4 Republicans. These names encompassed those who have cordially tossed their hats into the 2026 gubernatorial race and those who are being speculated upon as potential candidates. We need to highlight, however, that no distinct front-runner sprung forward from this political race.
It’s striking that an overwhelming majority of voters, comprising about 52%, refused to hitch their preferences to any wagon in particular quite yet. This lack of clarity only emphasises the uncertainty filling the gubernatorial stages and perhaps reflects an absence of compelling candidates.
Unsurprisingly, Harris herself was nowhere to be found in this list. And yet, when asked about her, only one-third (33%) of the polled individuals indicated a strong likelihood of extending their support should she decide to take the gubernatorial plunge. These tepid results do not declare her the undoubted future governor, but instead raise doubts about her standing.
A further 13%, when probed, hesitantly allowed for a ‘somewhat likely’ chance of supporting Harris. The reticence of these voters cannot be ignored, floating the possibility that the numbers might not play out in her favor when it truly matters.
From the list provided, Democratic Congresswoman Katie Porter, Republican Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, and Republican state Senator Brian Dahle surfaced as the early favorites. Yet, bearing in mind that no clear leader emerged, it’s safe to say that their advantage may be fleeting and could easily swing the other way.
Three other Democrats trailed behind at 7% – undeniably a far cry from an overwhelming show of support. Among these were Lt. Governor Eleni Kounalakis, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, and the U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra. Their positions in the poll data suggest that party alignment alone hasn’t carried these contenders to the pinnacle of voter preference.
Five additional Democrats and two Republicans were left languishing even further down the popularity chart. Each of them received a paltry sum of between 2% and 5% of voter preferences. It’s a reflection of the hesitant and indecisive sentiments fermenting among voters when it comes to selecting their prospective governor.
Further complicating the 2026 waters is the state’s current Governor, Gavin Newsom, who cannot partake in the race due to term limits. This open vacancy presents an invitation to a host of new faces. However, it seems like the polled populace is yet unwilling to rally robust support around any single candidate.
Taking a step towards shaping the future, certain names have been confidently announced for an electoral run, among them, Lt. Governor Eleni Kounalakis. Despite being quite an apparent figure in the political scene, her announcement did not adequately boost her popularity, casting a cloud over her chances.
Another confirmed candidate is former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. While his previous tenure certainly adds weight to his name, the polling doesn’t indicate that voters consider this enough to secure his victory.
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond has also thrown his name into the mix. However, if the current polling data is any indication, his candidacy isn’t enough to ignite much enthusiasm among prospective voters.
Highlighting the fact that name recognition doesn’t necessarily equate to popularity or success, state Senator Tony Atkins has publicly declared his candidacy too. However, his announcement evidently failed to stir up a whirlwind of public support, sketching a challenging road ahead for him.
Betty Yee, who previously held the post of state Controller, has announced her intent to run for governor, following suit. Yet again, her announcement failed to pick up the groundswell of support one would anticipate from such a highly positioned Democratic representative.
Lastly, the vice president of Zacky Farms, Leo Zacky, has also submitted his intention to run for office. While being a prominent name in the business realm, it’s apparent that his clout has not made significant inroads into the political arena, as evidenced by the lukewarm response so far.