Overview

• UC Berkeley IGS/Los Angeles Times survey (Aug. 11–17; 4,950 voters) finds 38% undecided, with Katie Porter at 17% and Republican Sheriff Chad Bianco at 10%.
• The poll shows other declared and potential contenders, including Xavier Becerra and Steve Hilton, in single digits, reflecting limited name recognition.
• California’s nonpartisan primary sends the top two finishers to November, setting up either a cross-party matchup or a same-party general election.
• Morning Consult’s national Democratic poll (Aug. 22–24) puts Gavin Newsom at 19%, up from 11% in June and 5% in March, while Kamala Harris leads at 29% after recent slippage.
• Sen. Alex Padilla is reported by Politico to be weighing a 2026 bid; his office has not confirmed and says he is focused on Newsom’s Proposition 50.