If former Vice President Kamala Harris was hoping for a triumphant homecoming in California politics, the early signs suggest she might want to recalibrate her expectations. A new poll gauging voter sentiment about a possible 2026 gubernatorial run paints a picture that’s less of a victory lap and more of a polite cough in the back row.
According to a Politico/UC Berkeley Citrin Center survey, Harris is running on little more than name ID—and even that’s failing to ignite much enthusiasm. In fact, the most common reaction to her potential campaign from California’s political elite was a single, telling word: “indifferent.”
That’s right. Not excited. Not outraged. Not even curious. Just… indifferent.
Among registered voters, particularly independents and Republicans, reactions to Harris were strikingly negative. A combined 47% described the prospect of a Governor Harris with feelings ranging from “irritated” to “hopeless.” While her approval among Democrats remains high—about 75% say they’d be “joyful” or “excited”—her inability to build appeal beyond her base could become a serious liability.
The Kamala D. Harris Institute for Examining the Importance of Understanding What Needs to Be Done https://t.co/Citrm67juO
— Andrew Stiles (@AndrewStilesUSA) April 11, 2025
The math matters here. Democrats may dominate state politics, but they don’t make up a majority of California voters. Independents now account for two in ten, and their sour reaction may complicate any easy glide to the governor’s mansion.
It’s the kind of quiet turbulence that political consultants can feel but candidates often ignore—until it’s too late.
Harris’s time as vice president was plagued by internal dysfunction, a stalled portfolio, and repeated media fumbles, from awkward interviews to infamous “word salads” that spawned social media memes and late-night punchlines. The 2020 presidential campaign, which fizzled before the primaries even began, left many wondering whether the former California attorney general ever truly resonated with voters outside a coastal elite circle.
Job 1: Finding some ideas and learning what policy is.
— Stephen Green (@VodkaPundit) April 11, 2025
Now, with Gavin Newsom term-limited, the governor’s office presents a tempting launchpad for a 2028 presidential bid—a second act to rehab the brand and reconnect with voters. But Harris’s own circle seems aware of the risk: according to The New York Times, allies have floated a backup plan in the form of a think tank, or as critics have mockingly dubbed it, The Kamala D. Harris Institute for Examining the Importance of Understanding What Needs to Be Done.
Yes, seriously.
The polling data didn’t just land with a thud—it sent signals to Harris’s potential opponents. As strategist Mike Murphy observed, “She’ll start in front, but she’s vulnerable to a campaign.” That means names like Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis and even billionaire Rick Caruso may see a real opening.
And with no shortage of rising stars eager to fill Newsom’s shoes, Harris could be walking into a hornet’s nest of competition she assumed had long been neutralized by her national stature.
If the road ahead wasn’t already complicated enough, Harris continues to suffer from a chronic perception problem—the sense that her messaging lacks depth, coherence, or consistency. Social media had a field day with the idea of her launching a policy institute. Commentators like Andrew Stiles and Stephen Green mocked the concept with mock headlines straight out of The Babylon Bee.
And in politics, perception is power. If the public doesn’t take you seriously, no amount of policy platforms or polished ad buys will fix it.
The “Kamala Harris Institute for Policies and Ideas” sounds a little bit like a Babylon Bee headline.
Sort of like if the Kardashians opened a think tank. https://t.co/ziOrTqPr5f
— Matt Whitlock (@mattdizwhitlock) April 11, 2025
Harris has reportedly set a late-summer deadline to decide whether to enter the race. And while she has deep fundraising networks and the support of loyal Democratic operatives, those advantages may not be enough to overcome what’s missing: organic excitement, cross-party appeal, and a clear vision that connects with the average California voter.
Because if Kamala Harris’s future rests on a return to California, the early signs suggest she’ll need more than just a familiar name. She’ll need to explain why she’s running—and this time, the voters will need more than a slogan.
