Kamala Harris, a longtime public figure with a history of leadership roles in California and on the national stage, is once again the subject of public discussion — this time about her potential future in state leadership.
A recent survey conducted by UC Berkeley’s Citrin Center and Politico revealed mixed feelings among California professionals and residents when asked about Harris possibly running for governor in 2026. Current Governor Gavin Newsom will be stepping down due to term limits, creating an open seat in the state’s top office.
According to the survey:
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36% of respondents were “indifferent” to the idea of Harris running.
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22% were “mostly excited.”
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20% felt “irritated,” and
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4% were “outraged.”
The poll included a broad range of participants, from policymakers and state employees to subscribers of California-focused news platforms.
Among registered voters, enthusiasm was somewhat higher:
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41% of Democrats said they’d be “most excited” by a Harris campaign.
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33% reported they’d feel “joyful.”
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Nearly 25% remained neutral.
The data also showed varying reactions from different communities:
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35% of minority voters said they’d feel “joyful,” and 38% were “mostly excited.”
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19% of Latino respondents felt “hopeless” about a run.
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19% of Asian respondents expressed “irritation.”
Despite the range of reactions, Harris herself has yet to announce her next steps. While she’s been keeping a relatively low public profile in recent months, she recently made an appearance at a leadership summit for women in California, where she shared a hopeful message:
“I’m not going anywhere,” Harris said during her speech at the Leading Women Defined gathering. “There were many things we knew would happen… I swore I wasn’t going to say ‘I told you so,’” she added with a smile.
Harris served as California’s Attorney General and U.S. Senator before taking on national leadership roles. Now, speculation continues about whether she will seek the governor’s office in 2026 or pursue another leadership role in the coming years. A formal decision is expected by the end of summer.
Meanwhile, another familiar name has officially joined the race. Former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra launched his campaign for governor just this month.
If Harris decides to run, early polling suggests she would enter the race as a strong contender. A February survey by Emerson College found that nearly 60% of likely primary voters supported her in a hypothetical race.
For now, all eyes are on what Kamala Harris decides next — as her future continues to spark conversation across California.
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