California Gov. Gavin Newsom has reportedly surpassed former Vice President Kamala Harris as the favorite to win the 2028 Democratic presidential primary, according to a new POLITICO-Citrin Center-Possibility Lab poll.

The survey, which was conducted among California residents, showed that Newsom was the majority favorite among potential Democratic candidates at 25%, with Harris listed second at 19%. Former Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg was listed third at 13%, followed by New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez at 10% and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz at 4%.

Newsom has recently garnered attention by parodying President Donald Trump's social media approach, as well as asserting himself in the opposition of ICE raids within his state, Republican Gov. Greg Abbott's plan to counter gerrymandering in Texas and lawsuits challenging Trump's tariffs. Harris, who lost the 2024 election to Trump during what was the shortest presidential campaign in history, had been the Democratic frontrunner in several polls, but has since largely avoided the spotlight and recently passed on running to be Newsom's potential gubernatorial successor, which would've still allowed her to launch another presidential campaign in 2028.

“There’s affection for her, but maybe less confidence that she would be a strong candidate,” said Jack Citrin, a veteran political science professor at UC Berkeley and partner on the poll, via POLITICO. “(Newsom is) in the news everyday. If you think someone is running, you’re more likely to support them.”

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