Gavin Newsom’s popularity flips with Americans

California Governor Gavin Newsom‘s popularity has increased in recent months, new polling shows.

According to polling by Emerson College, Newsom’s net popularity has increased from -11 percentage points in December 2025 to +2 percentage points in March 2026. It is news that will surely buoy the Democratic governor as his party approaches competitive midterm elections and amid rumors of a potential presidential run.

Newsweek reached out to Newsom’s office via email for comment.

Why It Matters

Newsom’s increasing popularity is good news for Democrats in California as they seek electoral success in the November 2026 midterm elections. The governor has consistently been mentioned among the leading candidates in most polls of a hypothetical Democratic 2028 primary.

While he has not announced a formal run for president, the governor told CBS News in October he would decide after the midterms.

What To Know

Emerson’s polling shows that in December 2025, 33 percent of respondents had a favorable view of Newsom and 44 percent had an unfavorable view, leaving him with a net approval rating of -11 percentage points.

In Emerson’s latest poll, conducted between March 16 and 17, 42 percent reported a favorable view of the California governor, while 40 percent held an unfavorable view, yielding a net approval rating of +2 percentage points. The poll of 1,000 respondents had a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.

The polling began the same day that Trump implied that Newsom, who recently shared that he was diagnosed with dyslexia as a child, should not be president.

Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Monday: “Honestly, I’m all for people with learning disabilities, but not for my president.” His comments triggered a backlash.

What People Are Saying

California Governor Gavin Newsom told CBS News in October: “Yeah, I’d be lying otherwise,” in response to a question on whether he would consider a presidential bid. “I’d just be lying. And I’m not – I can’t do that.”

What Happens Next

Newsom will step down as governor of California in January 2027, after serving the constitutionally mandated maximum of two terms. The primary is set to be held in June. Sabato’s Crystal Ball classifies the race as Safe Democratic.

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