California Governor Gavin Newsom’s standing in the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination race appears to be declining, according to a recent poll, as several rivals gain momentum. The latest survey from Bowling Green State University and YouGov shows Newsom tied for third place with Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, each receiving 14% support among Democratic voters.

Former Vice President Kamala Harris leads the field with 17%, followed closely by former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg at 16%. Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona ranks fifth with 10%. The poll surveyed 1,200 registered voters in the United States from August 25 to September 1 and carries a margin of error of plus or minus 3.3 percentage points.

Earlier this year, Newsom was positioned at the forefront of the race, consistently placing in the top two along with Harris. However, his support has waned over recent months, coinciding with Buttigieg’s growing popularity. Newsom previously indicated he would not pursue a White House bid if Harris decides to run again, citing concerns about direct competition between two prominent Californians.

Ocasio-Cortez, representing New York’s Queens-Bronx district, has neither confirmed nor ruled out a 2028 run, instead emphasizing her focus on the 2026 midterm elections. Meanwhile, Kelly has intensified his presidential groundwork by visiting early primary states and increasing his visibility among Democratic voters.

Notably, the poll did not include Senator Jon Ossoff of Georgia, who has shown favorable numbers in other surveys. Efforts to obtain comment from the offices of Harris, Newsom, Ocasio-Cortez, Buttigieg, and Kelly were unsuccessful.