Former Vice President Kamala Harris has kept a low profile in recent months, but a recent poll shows her name topping a list of potential candidates in her home state.
The failed Democratic presidential nominee scored 41% support as a potential candidate in California’s gubernatorial race, according to a survey by the University of California, Irvine School of Social Ecology. The poll, conducted between May 27 and June 2, 2025, and May 29 and June 4, 2025, also showed a general Republican candidate for the race garnering only 29% support.
“The path to governor seems well-paved for Vice President Harris if she decides to run,” Jon Gould, dean of UCI’s School of Social Ecology, said in a statement. “Although she lacks majority support at the moment, people know her better than the other candidates and generally view her favorably.”
California residents are down on @POTUS Donald Trump, up on @CAgovernor Gavin Newsom and bully on former Vice President @KamalaHarris succeeding the governor, finds the latest UCI-OC Poll conducted by the @UCIrvine School of @Social_Ecology. https://t.co/uH98yLtcsi pic.twitter.com/VM7t3JzPvQ
— UCI Social Ecology (@Social_Ecology) July 2, 2025
Sources told The Hill last month that Harris, who served as California’s attorney general and U.S. senator, “hasn’t made a final decision yet and is still considering all her options” about running for California governor, adding that “she has made it clear that she is not done with public service and is giving the race strong consideration.”
“Among Democrats, who account for 47% of the state’s voters as of February, Harris had the support of nearly half, while every announced candidate had single-digit support. Harris led among Californians in every region and in every racial group,” according to the poll, the Los Angeles Times reported.
“When tested against candidates who have announced, Harris was the choice of 24% of voters, the only candidate to crack double digits, according to the poll. However, 40% of respondents were undecided, according to the poll,” the outlet added.
UC-Irvine poll | Poll published on July 2
California Governor jungle primary
Kamala Harris 24%
Rick Caruso 9%
Katie Porter 6%
Chad Bianco 4%
Antonio Villaraigosa 4%
Xavier Becerra 2%
Eleni Kounalakis 2%
Kyle Langford 2%
Not sure yet 40%
I won’t vote 6%
Other 1%— Politics & Poll Tracker (@PollTracker2024) July 2, 2025
Earlier this year, Richard Grenell said he “wouldn’t say no” to a run for governor if Harris decided to step into the race.
“If Kamala Harris runs for governor, I believe that she has such baggage and hundreds of millions of dollars in educating the voters of how terrible she is, that it’s a new day in California, and that the Republican actually has a shot,” President Donald Trump’s Envoy for Special Missions, said at the Munich Security Conference in Germany in February.
Ric Grenell told reporters in Munich he would consider running for California governor if Kamala Harris enters the race, per pool.
“If Kamala Harris runs for governor … It’s a new day in California and that the Republican actually has a shot, and I wouldn’t say no,” he said.
— Reese Gorman (@reesejgorman) February 14, 2025
Former Fox News host Steve Hilton launched his bid in the crowded race to replace Democrat Gov. Gavin Newsom, who terms out in 2026.
“I’m running for governor to make California golden again,” Hilton said in April.
Writers and editors can be contacted at writers@bizpcreview.com with feedback, tips, or corrections.
Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida. Powers also contributes to BizPac Review.
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