Former Vice President Kamala Harris is quickly being erased as the choice for the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination as several other competitors start their race for the job, notably former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and liberal Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY).
In its latest national test of the 2028 race, Emerson College Polling showed a dramatic plummet for Harris, from the lead at 37% just after the 2024 election, to a weak second place at 13% this month.
In first place is Buttigieg at 16%. California Gov. Gavin Newsom is third with 12%, followed by Ocasio-Cortez and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, who are tied at 7%.
Notably, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) is at 5%. He has been leading a national tour with Ocasio-Cortez, decrying President Donald Trump. The duo is obviously catching fire in the Democratic base, but it appears that she is the default choice for president. In November, she had just 1% support.
“Undecided” leads the new poll out Friday morning at 23%. That is down from 35% in Emerson’s November 2024 poll, suggesting that the party is starting to focus more on the next presidential election.
On the Republican side, where the race will also be wide open because Trump cannot run again, it’s all Vice President JD Vance. He leads with a nearly uncatchable 46%, up from 30% in November.
And as with other similar 2028 polls, Trump’s Cabinet members top the list of those trying to catch Vance — or join him on a Republican ticket.
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In second is Secretary of State Marco Rubio at 12% and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is third at 9%. They are followed by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. at 5% and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem at 2%. Just 17% of Republicans are undecided.
“Vice President Vance has solidified himself as the frontrunner in the 2028 nomination contest, backed by 52% of male Republican primary voters and voters over 60,” said Spencer Kimball, executive director of Emerson College Polling.