Poll: Governor’s approval rating reaches new high

Gov. Jerry Brown’s approval rating has reached a new high as he considers seeking re-election next year.

A Field Poll released Thursday finds that nearly six of 10 registered voters approve of his performance, up seven points since a similar survey in July.

Brown, a Democrat, has not said if he will seek a fourth term. But the poll finds him favored over three potential Republican rivals. He was the choice of 52 percent of those surveyed.

Former lieutenant governor Abel Maldonado was backed by 11 percent, state Assemblyman Tim Donnelly by 9 percent and former U.S. treasury official Neel Kashkari by 3 percent. Kashkari is just considering a challenge.

Field surveyed 836 registered voters by telephone from Nov. 15-Dec. 3. The poll has a sampling error margin of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points.