Amid speculation that Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) is running a stealthy presidential campaign, one of the party's top Democrats is faring poorly among voters in his own state.
For the first time since Newsom entered the governor’s office in 2019, more California voters disapprove of his job performance than approve, 49% to 44%, respectively, according to a poll released Tuesday from UC Berkley's Institute of Governmental Studies, cosponsored by the Los Angeles Times. In February, Newsom’s approval rating was at 55% and his disapproval rating was at 39%.
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Newsom peaked in popularity shortly after his initial response to the COVID-19 pandemic, with voters praising him for his quick vaccine distribution. In September 2020, Newsom’s approval peaked at 64%. The California governor saw his second-highest disapproval rating while in office in January 2021 at 48%, a steep drop from the high praises just months prior.
Despite repeated remarks from Newsom saying he won’t launch a bid for the White House in 2024, even if President Joe Biden backs down, rumors are still flying that he’ll run for president.
“He’s kind of taking on a new persona,” Mark DiCamillo, director of the Berkeley poll and a veteran California pollster, told the Los Angeles Times. “He’s no longer just the governor of California. He’s a spokesperson for the national party, and basically, voters are being asked to react to that.”
Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) targeted Newsom for allegedly vying for the Oval Office in 2024 but not having “the guts to announce it.”
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Speaking at an event in Iowa on Saturday, Fetterman said, “There are two additional Democrats” that are in the running for president currently. “One is a congressman from Minnesota, the other one is the governor of California, but only one has the guts to announce it.”
Newsom holds high support within his own Democratic Party, but it’s been wavering in recent months. The most recent poll shows the governor with 66% approval from Democratic voters, which is a 16-point drop from February.