Poll: Katie Porter the early frontrunner for California governor
U.S. Rep. Katie Porter is the early frontrunner in a wide-open race to become California’s next governor — if she decides to run — according to a new poll from USC, Cal Poly Pomona and California State University, Long Beach. But with two years to go until the gubernatorial election, polling experts say it’s still anyone’s race to win.
Porter, a Democrat who came up short in her primary bid for U.S. Senate, received 14% support when matched against a dozen people who have either announced they are running or are rumored to be running for governor in 2026. The closest hypothetical competitor was Republican State Sen. Brian Dahle, with 5.3% of the vote. Attorney General Rob Bonta (3.5%) was the second best-performing Democrat.
“The 2026 governor’s race is wide open and anyone could win,” said Christian Grose, professor of political science and international relations and public policy at the USC Price School of Public Policy and the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences. “Driven by high statewide name recognition after her unsuccessful Senate primary run, Katie Porter leads the pack.”
Those are just some of the results of the latest California Elections and Policy Poll sponsored by the Long Beach Center for Urban Politics and Policy at Cal State Long Beach in collaboration with USC. The statewide survey asked 1,685 likely voters in California, including 311 from Los Angeles County, about the 2024 U.S. presidential and Senate elections, as well as ballot propositions, public policies and local races that voters will decide this November.
