Kamala Harris has emerged as the frontrunner in a new poll gauging Democratic support for the 2028 presidential primary, despite her loss to Donald Trump in 2024. According to Morning Consult, 36% of Democratic and Democratic-leaning voters would back the former vice president if the election were held today.
The poll also placed New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in third place with 5%. Ocasio-Cortez, currently on a nationwide tour rallying against Trump’s policies alongside Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, trails behind the second most popular response—“don’t know/no opinion”—which received 13% support.
Tied with Ocasio-Cortez at 5% were Harris’s former running mate, Tim Walz, and California Governor Gavin Newsom. Newsom, often considered a potential future party leader, has relatively little national campaign experience. Meanwhile, former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg polled at 10%, while billionaire entrepreneur Mark Cuban and Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro each secured 4%.
Despite the early polling, Democratic donors remain hesitant about the party’s future prospects. “I don’t know if I would get involved at this point even if God were running,” veteran fundraiser Michael Kempner told ABC News. “I think it’s going to be tough for any Democrat to raise any money. There is little enthusiasm.”
Another anonymous donor was even more dismissive of Harris’s chances, stating, “She’s done. I think the country will not have moved in a progressive direction during that time—it will have become more conservative.”
Meanwhile, speculation continues about Harris’s political future. Reports indicate she is considering a run for governor of California, with an internal deadline set for a decision by the end of the summer. However, some potential rivals are growing impatient.
“The time is now,” former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said, urging Harris to clarify her intentions. As Democratic voters and party leaders look ahead to 2028, the race for the party’s future remains far from settled.
