New poll shows top 2028 Democratic presidential candidates
Former U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris speaks onstage during her “107 Days” book tour at Tabernacle on October 8, 2025, in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images)
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A recent poll from the Center Square Voters’ Voice, released this week, highlights the front-runners among Democratic figures considering a run for the 2028 presidential election, with Vice President Kamala Harris emerging as the leading contender.
Newsweek contacted political analysts on Thursday via email for their perspective.
Why This Matters
Even though the 2028 election is still several years away, early polling is increasingly seen as a measure of potential candidate strength, public sentiment, and the shifting dynamics within parties—particularly in the aftermath of the 2024 election cycle.
Key Findings
The poll shows Harris receiving 31 percent of the potential Democratic primary vote. California Governor Gavin Newsom follows with 16 percent, former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg at 7 percent, and New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez at 6 percent. Another 18 percent of respondents said they were undecided among the 13 Democratic names included in the survey.
Conducted from March 2 to March 5, 2026, the survey included 1,152 Democrats and left-leaning Independents, with results weighted to reflect the national party composition. Noble Predictive Insights carried out the poll.
Breaking down support by party affiliation, 32 percent of Democrats and 18 percent of Independents back Harris. In comparison, a previous poll in October 2025 showed her at 27 percent among Independents.
The survey also highlights demographic patterns: Harris leads across all racial groups. She has 55 percent support among Black voters, 29 percent among Hispanic and Latino respondents, 25 percent among white voters, and 30 percent among other racial groups combined. Newsom, by contrast, receives his strongest backing from Hispanic or Latino respondents, followed by white voters, other races combined, and Black voters.
Earlier polls have shown different results. A February survey by Echelon Insights put Newsom in the lead with 24 percent, Harris at 18 percent, Ocasio-Cortez at 9 percent, and Buttigieg at 8 percent. However, a new March 2026 Echelon Insights poll indicates Harris has now edged ahead of Newsom among likely Democratic primary voters.
Analyst Perspectives
Scott Jennings, a former advisor to George W. Bush, expressed support for Harris on X in February, tweeting: “We need to unite as Americans and will this into existence. Kamala Harris 2028.”
Columbia University professor Robert Y. Shapiro told Newsweek last month that early polling has limited predictive value for the nomination itself but can influence candidate visibility and fundraising. “Donors tend to gravitate toward candidates demonstrating strong potential support,” Shapiro explained. “For lesser-known figures like Newsom, these polls can significantly increase attention. Harris is already widely recognized, so the impact is more notable for the others.”
Next Steps
Potential Democratic candidates usually formalize their campaigns following the midterm elections.
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