In the political landscape of California, a distinct contrast emerges between two prominent figures: Governor Gavin Newsom and former Vice President Kamala Harris. While Newsom has positioned himself as a leading voice challenging former President Donald Trump, Harris remains a steadfast emblem of the Democratic Party.

Recent polling data from The Daily Mail and JL Partners in February reveals Harris’s enduring appeal. She leads as the top choice for the 2028 Democratic primary among prospective voters, securing 23 percent support, which places her at the forefront of potential candidates.

Governor Newsom follows closely behind, garnering 19 percent support from likely Democratic primary voters. This positions him as a significant contender, reflecting his growing influence within the party.

Another notable figure in the race is Pete Buttigieg, the former Transportation Secretary and one-time mayor of South Bend, Indiana. Despite relocating to Michigan, Buttigieg continues to maintain a visible presence through frequent cable news appearances. His efforts have resonated with voters, earning him 10 percent in the poll.

Early poll shows Harris ahead of potential 2028 rivals

Interestingly, an additional 10 percent of Democratic voters remain undecided, indicating room for shifts in candidate support as the political landscape evolves.

Although the official announcements for the 2028 presidential race are not expected for another year, the early stirrings of candidacies highlight the dynamic and competitive nature of the Democratic field.

Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was leading the middle of the pack, with 7 percent of Democratic primary voters selecting the progressive darling as their choice. 

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, Arizona Senator Mark Kelly and New Jersey Senator Cory Booker, who ran in 2020, each attracted 5 percent of likely primary voters.

After that came Illinois Governor JB Pritzker at 4 percent and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer with 3 percent.

Harris’ 2024 running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, has the support of 2 percent of the party, tied with Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, who has touted his electability in a red state.

All other potential Democratic hopefuls were polling at 1 percent or fewer. 

Harris remains the most popular figure in her party when only Democrats were asked, with 86 percent expressing a favorable attitude toward the former vice president who lost the 2024 election to Donald Trump.

But some of her 2028 support seems to be built on name recognition left over from her 2024 bid, as it’s already started to slide as other candidates’ prospects rise.

In a month, Harris went from receiving the support of 36 percent of likely Democratic primary voters down to her current 23 percent.

Buttigieg and Newsom have benefited, each gaining four points.

Harris is seemingly aware of this dynamic, as she teased another presidential bid the same day in February that Newsom’s memoir was released.

While Harris is popular with Democrats, she has the highest unfavorable number of any Democrat when all voters were surveyed.

Among all respondents, 47 percent held a favorable view of Harris, while 44 percent viewed her unfavorably. 

Thirty-two percent of voters viewed Harris very unfavorably. 

Newsom faces backlash over dyslexia remark at Atlanta event

After Harris, AOC and Newsom each had a quarter of voters rating them very unfavorably, likely an indicator of their higher national profiles. 

Newsom got in hot water – thanks to a MAGA-linked social media account – when he talked about his dyslexia last month at an Atlanta event where many black supporters were present. 

‘I’m not trying to impress you. I’m just trying to impress upon you I’m like you. I’m no better than you. I’m a 960 SAT guy… I can’t read,’ the California governor told the crowd.

Republican Senator Tim Scott, who is black, clapped back, saying, ‘Black Americans aren’t your low bar.’ 

Newsom’s office responded by pointing out that the governor has talked about his struggles with dyslexia for years – and spends a lot of time on it in his book. 

The Daily Mail’s poll found that a third, 34 percent, of black voters said Newsom is not like them, while 26 percent said the California governor is like them. 

About a quarter, 22 percent, said they weren’t sure how to answer the question, while another 18 percent said they weren’t familiar with Newsom.  

Among all voters, progressive Senator Bernie Sanders, who ran for President in 2016 and 2020, has the highest net rating of any Democrat, despite 23 percent viewing him very unfavorably. 

At 84, Sanders is very unlikely to mount another White House bid, leaving the progressive wing of the party looking toward 36-year-old AOC.

Shapiro gets the best numbers of any potential 2028 hopeful. 

Thirty-two percent of respondents viewed him favorably, while 22 percent viewed him unfavorably. 

The poll shows, however, that he’s still relatively unknown, with 28 percent saying they have no opinion of the Pennsylvania governor and another 18 percent saying they’ve never heard of him. 

The poll was conducted from February 25 to 27, sampling 1,095 registered voters online, giving the survey a plus or minus 3 percent margin of error. 

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