California policy insiders aren’t showing much excitement about Kamala Harris potentially running for governor. A survey by Politico and UC Berkeley’s Citrin Center found 36% of these influencers said they felt "indifferent" about the idea. Only 4% said they would be outraged, 22% were "mostly excited," and 20% felt irritated.
The poll included both California registered voters and a group of policy insiders such as lawmakers and staffers. Among the general public, Harris fared better, with 33% of voters saying they would feel "joyful" if she ran. However, the overall enthusiasm still appeared limited.
Harris hasn’t announced a gubernatorial run but has vowed to stay active in politics following her 2024 loss to Donald Trump. She is also considering another run for the presidency in 2028. Despite her national profile, reactions within her home state remain mixed.
Among independent voters, enthusiasm was particularly low. According to the poll, 21% said they felt "hopeless" about Harris running, and 26% said they were "irritated" by the possibility. This shows a clear lack of support from a critical voting bloc.
Voters of color had varied reactions. While 35% of Black voters said they were "joyful" and 38% were "mostly excited," Latino and Asian voters expressed more skepticism. Nineteen percent of Latino voters said they felt "hopeless," and 18% of Asian voters said they were "irritated."
“It’s almost a surprising lack of enthusiasm,” said UC Berkeley political science professor Jack Citrin. “But we know from the general election that Latino voters shifted as compared to 2020 or 2016 towards Trump.” This shift may be influencing current perceptions.
Harris stepped in as the Democratic nominee after President Biden exited the 2024 race following a disastrous debate performance. Since the loss, she has posted occasionally on social media. "Americans are standing up to the administration as they implement Project 2025 at full speed," she wrote earlier this month.
On April 7, she posted a speech clip saying, “I’ll see you out there. I’m not going anywhere.” Still, she’s kept a low public profile since the election—unlike her 2024 running mate, Gov. Tim Walz, who’s made frequent public appearances and given several interviews.