Staff Reports
Former Vice President Kamala Harris may not have completely dropped the curtain on her political aspirations after the 2024 presidential race fizzled out for her. Rumor has it that she’s toying with the idea of jumping into the California gubernatorial contest for 2026, and if recent polling is any indication, she might have better odds than her fellow Democrats. It seems all those selfies and awkward laughs haven’t completely deserted her popularity, at least among Democratic primary voters.
A recent survey conducted by Emerson College Polling reveals that Harris currently holds a commanding lead over potential challengers, snagging a whopping 57 percent of support from Democratic primary voters. Not too shabby for someone who just lost the presidential election and still can’t seem to keep any coherent campaign strategy afloat. Former Rep. Katie Porter comes in a distant second at 9 percent, with others like former State Assembly Speaker Antonio Villaraigosa and Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis scratching for just 4 and 3 percent of the vote, respectively. And for those undecided voters? A sizable 17 percent are apparently still waiting for someone to give them a good reason to advise them on who to vote for.
Now, take Harris off the ballot, and things become a whole different ballgame. The undecided contingent jumps up to 45 percent, indicating that quite a few folks might need a little more than just a flash of Harris’ Instagram feed to make up their minds. It would appear that without her name on the ticket, it might be a dogfight between Porter, who leads with 21 percent, and Villaraigosa and Kounalakis limping along at a meek 9 and 5 percent respectively. Yet, isn’t it amusing to see how the once-dominant Democratic base is now reeling and scrambling for support?
Survey Shows How Much Support Harris Has in Hypothetical CA Gubernatorial Race
https://t.co/PzkvhjUkum— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) February 13, 2025
Those interested in demographic breakdowns will find Harris’ support strongest among women, Hispanics, and Black voters—60, 61, and 64 percent respectively. Spencer Kimball, the brain behind Emerson College Polling, pointed out that Harris would undoubtedly start as the frontrunner if she decides to play. Yet, consider the irony: the one candidate who has proven more adept at blowing up her own balloon than actually running a campaign might end up carrying the party’s hopes and dreams on her back once again. Meanwhile, Porter, distinguished for her appeal among college-educated voters, is still left grasping at straws—even among those who have master’s degrees.
While Harris may be contemplating her next move, she seems to be taking her sweet time pondering her political resurrection—an activity paired nicely with a tour of wildfire destruction in Pacific Palisades. When pressed about her plans, she delivered a classic bit of political vagueness. Instead of diving into specifics, she pivoted into a blend of vague community concern and promises of support. It’s clear that without a differentiated strategy to distinguish herself from the competition, Harris might just end up as another footnote in California’s ever-evolving political landscape.
