A shockingly low 6% of California voters said that they would consider voting for Caitlyn Jenner against Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) in the state’s upcoming recall election, according to a new UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies/LA Times poll.
“There doesn’t seem to be a significant constituency for her candidacy,” pollster Mark DiCamillo said.
Related: Megan Rapinoe burns Caitlyn Jenner over her “not exceptional” foray into politics
The poll asked Californians about four candidates who are trying to unseat Newsom in the recall election. Former San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer and lawyer John Cox tied for first place with 22% support, which are already weak results. Former Rep. Doug Ose (R-CA) got support from 14% of voters in the poll for his campaign.
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Jenner, the retired Olympic athlete and reality TV star, came in last at just 6%. And respondents to the poll were allowed to say that they support more than one challenger. That is, 94% of voters don’t support her, and it’s not because they prefer another challenger.
“Even among Republicans, only 13% say they’d be inclined to vote for her,” said DiCamillo. “It’s a very poor showing.”
Her candidacy has been compared to Arnold Schwarzenegger’s gubernatorial run in 2003. He too was a celebrity with no background in politics who entered a recall election for California governor. Jenner even hired a strategist who worked on Schwarzenegger’s successful campaign.
But in his first poll at the time – a Field Poll three months before the election – Schwarzenegger got 30% support. He was able to build a winning constituency from there, but that task will be much more difficult for Jenner.
Her campaign has already faced some bumps in the road. Her past support for Donald Trump – which she reiterated last week – as well as her opposition to transgender rights and alienating comments about homeless people, haven’t gotten her much support from the left.
On the right, her past criticisms of Trump’s attacks on transgender rights are certainly not helping her. Earlier today, CNN released interview footage where she said she didn’t vote for Trump last year because she was too busy golfing.
Her general lack of polish, experience, and detailed positions on key issues aren’t going to win her voters who want competence in government, and she will also face transphobia and sexism. Evangelical pundit Charlie Kirk has already said that Republicans shouldn’t vote for her just because of her transgender identity.
Only 36% of California voters want to get rid of Gov. Newsom, while 49% said that they will vote to keep him. The rest were undecided.
