Kamala Harris Emerges as Leading Candidate in 2028 Democratic Primary

The former Vice President has secured a significant lead as the frontrunner for the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination, according to a recent poll. Harris garnered 26% support among Democratic and Democratic-leaning voters, marking her as the clear favorite despite losing the 2024 election in a landslide.

Other notable contenders include former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, with 11%, and California Governor Gavin Newsom, holding 10%. Both figures saw slight increases in support when Harris was excluded from the poll, with each rising to 12%.

In the wider field, Senators Cory Booker and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez received 7% and 6%, respectively, while entrepreneur Mark Cuban led a group of outsiders with 3%. Additionally, sports commentator Stephen A. Smith and comedian Jon Stewart received 1% support each. Nearly 13% of voters remained undecided with more than two years until primaries.

Vice President Kamala Harris speaking at the U.S.-ASEAN Summit — Harris has been planning a political comeback following her 2024 presidential bid.

Support Shifts When Harris is Removed

If Harris is not considered, support for Newsom and Buttigieg increases to 12%. In that scenario, Ocasio-Cortez leads among the remaining candidates with 9%, with Booker close behind at 8%, and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz entering the top five with 7% support.

Governor Gavin Newsom speaking — Newsom visited South Carolina last week, emphasizing his relevance in early primary states.

Republican Contenders and Leading Support

On the GOP side, Vice President JD Vance holds a commanding lead with 42% support, outpacing Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who has 9%. Other contenders include Marco Rubio (7%), Nikki Haley (6%), Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (5%), and Vivek Ramaswamy (4%).

Approximately 16% of respondents were unsure about their preferred candidate, highlighting the ongoing nature of the race.