Kamala Harris ‘Humiliated’ by New California Poll

A new California poll is delivering a brutal reality check for Democrats eyeing 2028 — and it’s not just bad news for former Vice President Kamala Harris.

The numbers suggest a party still reeling after President Donald Trump’s decisive 2024 victory, with no clear leader emerging from its top ranks.

According to a newly released survey from the UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies, Harris is barely registering support in her own political backyard. Just 9% of California voters said she would be their first choice for the Democratic presidential nomination.

That places her behind a surprising lineup of rivals, including California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.

For a politician who once held statewide office twice, served in the U.S. Senate, and rose to vice president, the collapse is striking.

“This is about as close to a political rejection as you can get in your home state,” one Republican strategist told us. “California should be her strongest base — and she’s barely on the board.”

Newsom leads the field with 28% support. But even that headline number comes with a warning sign.

Poll director Mark DiCamillo noted that drawing support from only about a quarter of voters is far from dominant. In fact, it underscores just how fractured the Democratic field has become.

“When your top candidate can’t even crack 30% in California, that tells you everything about where this party stands right now,” a GOP campaign adviser said.

The concerns don’t stop there.

Newsom’s job approval is slipping at home. The poll shows just 48% of Californians approve of his performance as governor — down from 51% last summer. His disapproval rating is rising, another troubling signal as he prepares to leave office after the 2026 election.

Even when voters were asked for their second choice, Newsom widened his lead, pulling in 42% support compared to Harris’ 20%.

Still, the broader takeaway may be even more damaging for Democrats.

Despite years in the national spotlight, Harris appears unable to recover from her 2024 loss to President Trump. She has blamed the defeat on a compressed campaign timeline, but voters don’t seem convinced.

Her ongoing “107 Days” book tour has done little to boost enthusiasm.

Meanwhile, Newsom — often framed as a leading anti-Trump voice — appears to be gaining traction among Democrats specifically because of his attacks on the president.

“Democratic voters see him as the strongest counter to Trump,” said IGS co-director G. Cristina Mora.

That may play well inside the party. But Republicans argue it highlights a deeper issue.

“They’re not running on results,” a senior GOP official said. “They’re running on opposition to Trump — again. Voters have already rejected that playbook.”

The poll also revealed an unexpected shift in key demographics. Newsom outperformed Harris among Black voters by double digits, 49% to 37%, while also drawing stronger support from older voters, Latinos, and men.

For Harris, those numbers raise serious questions about her coalition heading into any potential 2028 bid.

Neither Harris nor Newsom has formally announced a presidential campaign. But with Trump now firmly back in the White House and Republicans consolidating power, early signs suggest Democrats may be heading toward another bruising primary battle — without a clear frontrunner.

The poll surveyed more than 5,000 registered California voters between March 9 and March 14, with a margin of error of plus or minus 2.5 percentage points.

For now, one thing is clear: the Democratic bench is looking thinner than expected — and even in deep-blue California, voters appear far from united.