California Gov. Gavin Newsom listens to community leaders speak during a press conference at Controlled Thermal Resources "Hell's Kitchen" geothermal and lithium drill site in Calipatria, Calif., on Monday, March 20, 2023. Governor Newsom Tours Lithium Valley 5638
Sacramento, California – A majority of California voters say they do not want Governor Gavin Newsom to run for president in 2028, according to a new Emerson College Polling/Inside California Politics/The Hill survey released on April 17.
The poll found that 59% of California registered voters oppose Newsom launching a White House bid, while 41% say they would support his candidacy. The divide was heavily split along party lines: 61% of Democrats said they back a Newsom run, but 78% of Republicans and 75% of independents said they do not.
Newsom, 57, has served as governor since 2019 and was previously California’s lieutenant governor for eight years. While he has not officially declared presidential ambitions, he has been a frequent fixture in national media and political commentary. He recently launched a podcast titled This is Gavin Newsom and has made high-profile appearances, including a guest spot on Real Time with Bill Maher. His podcast guests have included figures such as former Trump adviser Steve Bannon.
Newsom’s approval rating in the new poll stands at 33%, with 42% disapproving and 24% remaining neutral. The poll was conducted April 12–14 with a sample of 1,000 registered California voters and carries a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.
Matt Taglia, senior director at Emerson College Polling, told Newsweek the results reflect growing negative sentiment toward the governor. “There’s clearly something driving negative sentiment,” Taglia said, noting that both Newsom and former President Donald Trump have seen declines in approval ratings between this poll and Emerson’s previous February survey.
Economic anxiety and housing affordability continue to dominate voters’ concerns. In February, these issues accounted for about half of voter priorities; that number has now jumped to 64%. Newsom, during his appearance on Maher, acknowledged the Democratic brand is currently viewed as “toxic.”
Taglia noted that voters often look to leaders like Newsom and the president as focal points for frustration, especially amid ongoing economic and housing instability. “It’s no surprise there’s limited appetite in California for Newsom as a presidential candidate,” he said.
Newsom is term-limited and will leave office following the 2026 election. Speculation continues around who might succeed him, with names like former Vice President Kamala Harris being floated as both a gubernatorial and presidential contender for 2028.
