When it comes to looking at who the Democrats might nominate in 2028, it’s still very early. However, once the midterm elections pass later this year, the 2028 primary contest will begin in earnest.
Who’s looking like the favorite for president on the Democratic side? One new poll looks at that question, including changes from previous polls.
The latest McLaughlin poll, as cited by Newsweek, shows that former Vice President and 2024 nominee Kamala Harris still leads at 26 percent, followed by California Gov. Gavin Newsom at 16 percent and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) at 9 percent. Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg is in fourth place with 8 percent.
Several other candidates are named in the poll.
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“Support for Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, New Jersey Senator Cory Booker and Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro stood at 5 percent each, Newsweek wrote of the poll. “Three percent said they would vote for Arizona Senator Mark Kelly, while Maryland Governor Wes Moore and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer received 2 percent each, according to the poll.” Former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel has 1 percent, while a full 17 percent are undecided.
The poll result seems to show that Harris, the nominee last time, has the highest name recognition, at a time when the primary contest hasn’t really begun yet.
The numbers have changed since last year, Newsweek noted.
McLaughlin poll | 6/17-6/23 LV
2028 Democratic US presidential primary
(Top 4 shift from May 2026)
🟦Kamala Harris 26% (-2)
🟦Gavin Newsom 16% (no change)
🟦AOC 9% (+2)
🟦Pete Buttigieg 8% (-1)
🟦JB Priztker 5%
🟦Cory Booker 5%
🟦Josh Shapiro 5%
🟦Mark Kelly 3%
🟦Wes Moore 2%… https://t.co/RuGXVpiADY pic.twitter.com/MsIAaUhlox— Politics & Poll Tracker 📡 (@PollTracker2024) June 25, 2026
“In June 2025, a McLaughlin poll showed that 30 percent of Democrats planned to vote for Harris, 8 percent for Newsom, 10 percent for Buttigieg, and 7 percent for Ocasio-Cortez and Booker. Shapiro and Whitmer saw 3 percent in that poll, while Pritzker and Moore’s support stood at 1 percent.”
Newsweek noted that other recent polls have had different results.
“A recent poll from AtlasIntel found Ocasio-Cortez, a favorite among progressive Democrats, leading among a crowded field of potential candidates, with 26 percent of respondents saying they would vote for her in the primary,” the report said.
“Buttigieg followed with 22.4 percent, while Newsom received 21.2 percent of support in the poll. Harris received the backing of 12.9 percent of respondents. No other candidates received double-digit support in the poll, which surveyed 2,069 U.S. adults from May 4-7 and had a margin of error of plus or minus 2 percentage points.”
Photo courtesy of the Political Tribune media library.
