Former Rep. Katie Porter's early lead in the California gubernatorial race could be erased if former Vice President Kamala Harris chooses to throw her hat in the ring. Political Science Assistant Professor Jarred Cuellar says Porter has high name recognition from her Senate run but Harris has “exponentially greater name recognition” and would likely maintain the lead if she entered the race, which could cause Porter to exit the race to avoid splitting the vote if Republicans consolidate around a single candidate.

This article was originally published by Newsweek on March 11, 2025.