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By Martha McHardy
US News Reporter
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California Governor Gavin Newsom's 2028 White House took a hit this week.
A new poll, conducted by co/efficient between May 7 and May 9 among 1,462 likely voters, found that just 2 percent of voters see Newsom as the face of the Democratic Party. The poll had a margin of error of plus or minus 3.3 percentage points.
Newsweek has contacted Newsom's office for comment via email.
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Why It Matters
Newsom has not said whether he plans to run for the White House, but has long been rumored to be considering a 2028 bid. But Newsom's ability to position himself as a unifying or compelling figure for the post-Trump era could be called into question.
Following election losses across the board in 2024, the Democratic Party has gone through infighting and struggled to unify around a clear successor at the top leading for some calls to rally behind a new generation of leadership.
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What To Know
According to the survey, New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez tops the list as the face of the Democratic Party, with 26 percent choosing the progressive firebrand. That result is tied with the 26 percent who said "no one" holds the title as the party's face.
Ocasio-Cortez has not formally announced a presidential bid for 2028, however a number of recent moves and statements have raised eyebrows on what she has in store for her future.
The New York progressive has been actively engaging in national politics, notably through her "Fighting Oligarchy" tour alongside Independent Senator Bernie Sanders, drawing significant attention and large crowds. She also released a campaign-style video featuring the slogan "We are one," further fueling speculation about her future ambitions.
When questioned about a potential 2028 presidential run, Ocasio-Cortez did not provide a definitive answer. Instead, she emphasized her current focus on pressing issues such as protecting Medicaid and safeguarding civil liberties, stating, "This moment isn't about campaigns or elections or about politics. It's about making sure people are protected," she told Fox News.
Meanwhile, pollster Nate Silver, who publishes the online newsletter The Silver Bulletin, recently identified Ocasio-Cortez as the most likely Democratic candidate to lead the party's 2028 presidential ticket, citing her broad appeal and strong support within the party.
Ocasio-Cortez was followed by Sanders who came in a distant second with 12 percent, while former Vice President Kamala Harris, the 2024 White House candidate once considered a leading Democratic voice, garnered just 6 percent. Other high-profile figures like, former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg (5 percent), and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (5 percent) failed to crack double digits, reflecting a fractured political landscape in which no single figure commands widespread recognition or loyalty.
Additionally, 22 percent of respondents chose "Other," further emphasizing the absence of a unifying figure capable of rallying the party's diverse coalition.
In such an uncertain political climate, Newsom has attempted to increase his public visibility, launching a podcast featuring conversations with conservative figures like Charlie Kirk and Steve Bannon, signaling an attempt to broaden his appeal beyond traditional Democratic bases. He also announced that he would sue the Trump administration over the so-called "Liberation Day" tariffs, which ignited stock market volatility.
He has also shifted his rhetoric toward the political center—and in some cases, to the right, proposing cutting health care for immigrants without legal status, and revealing that he is against transgender athletes competing in women's events, both of which drew backlash from other members of his party.
But these attempts to broaden his appeal appear to have fallen flat, some polls showing little appetite for a 2028 bid from Newsom. "Democratic leaders who are willing to fight Trump are being rewarded by voters; those who are giving in on core values are being reviled."
An Emerson College Polling/Inside California Politics/The Hill survey, conducted between April 12 and April 14, 2025, among 1,000 California registered voters, found that 59 percent of respondents said they don't think that Newsom should run for president in 2028, with 41 percent supporting a bid for the Oval Office.
In November, Newsom had +550 odds of becoming the next president, according to SportsBettingDime, which amounts to a 15 percent chance.
Democratic strategist Christy Setzer told Newsweek that this might be because Newsom has alienated many Democrats by shifting to the right in an apparent bid for broader appeal.
"Few people have blown through goodwill with Democrats like Gavin Newsom," Setzer said.
In a recent interview, Newsom expressed ambivalence about a presidential bid, telling the Los Angeles Times: "I have to have a burning why, and I have to have a compelling vision that distinguishes myself from anybody else. Without that, without both...I don't deserve to even be in the conversation."
What People Are Saying
Christy Setzer, Democratic Strategist, told Newsweek: "Few people have blown through goodwill with Democrats like Gavin Newsom. Seems like he's trying to tack right– whether it's podcasting with Steve Bannon or taking away health coverage from undocumented immigrants – because he thinks it'll win elections.
"But throwing immigrants and trans people under the bus isn't how you win Democratic primaries OR general elections; it's by showing the courage of your convictions. The lesson couldn't be more clear: Democratic leaders who are willing to fight Trump are being rewarded by voters; those who are giving in on core values are being reviled."
Democratic Representative Jimmy Gomez of California to Spectrum News in April: "He's doing what I think is in the interest of Gavin Newsom and not necessarily in the entire party. We have to organize in our districts and then go to the districts in the areas of the country that we need to win over; that means door to door, text message, phone calls and have those conversations. I just don't think his strategy is necessarily about changing public perception. It's about honestly helping position Gavin to run."
What Happens Next
Newsom is term limited as governor and will leave office after the 2026 statewide election. There has been speculation that Harris—a former U.S. Senator and state Attorney General from California—could potentially run for the governor's mansion if she skips a second run for the White House.
The Democratic Primary to challenge for the White House in 2028 is likely to be a crowded field. In 2020, the last time Democrats had an open primary, more than a dozen Democrats launched White House bids.
Update 5/16/25, 05:38 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with comment from Christy Setzer.
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