Former Vice President Kamala Harris may have the edge in a potential run for California governor, but a new poll shows voters are split on whether she should enter the race at all.
According to a recent survey by Emerson College Polling/Inside California Politics/The Hill, 31% of likely voters in the 2026 gubernatorial primary say they’d support Harris — even though she hasn’t officially entered the race.
That puts her far ahead of the current Democratic contenders, including former Rep. Katie Porter, who comes in at just 8%.
Still, the race is far from settled. Nearly 4 in 10 voters (39%) say they’re undecided, and the poll shows Harris’s potential candidacy is controversial. Exactly 50% of voters say she should run, while the other 50% say she shouldn’t.
Harris, who previously served as California attorney general and U.S. senator, has not announced her political plans.
But earlier this month she hinted that she’s not stepping away from public life, saying, “I’m not going anywhere.” Reports suggest she’ll make a final decision by the end of summer.
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Until then, the field remains in a holding pattern. Some Democratic hopefuls — like Porter — could see their chances shift significantly depending on what Harris decides. In fact, the poll shows that if Harris doesn’t run, Porter’s support jumps from 13% to 21% among Democrats.
Other prominent Democrats in the race include Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, former L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, former State Senate Leader Toni Atkins, and former Controller Betty Yee.
Former HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra and State Attorney General Rob Bonta have also been floated as contenders, though Bonta has ruled out a run and said he’d back Harris, calling her potential entry “field-clearing.”
The race is expected to remain in Democratic hands, given California’s strong blue-leaning electorate. But Harris’s next move could completely reshape the 2026 contest — and the future of California politics.
