New Poll: Kamala Harris Leads Gavin Newsom in Hypothetical Democratic Primary
A new poll shows former Vice President Kamala Harris with a significant lead over California Governor Gavin Newsom in a hypothetical Democratic primary for the 2028 presidential race. An expert, however, expressed reservations about Harris's viability.
Speculation is mounting within the Democratic Party regarding potential candidates for the 2028 presidential election. A recent poll conducted by Noble Predictive Insights in early June places former Vice President Kamala Harris in a clear lead among potential Democratic contenders.
Harris garnered 27 percent of hypothetical votes in the survey, while California Governor Gavin Newsom received 14 percent. Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez also received measurable support. The poll surveyed 1,013 Democrats and has a margin of error of 1.93 percent.
However, political science professor Grant Davis Reeher of Syracuse University cautioned that it is still too early to draw firm conclusions. He suggested that Harris's current lead might be driven by name recognition and her previous presidential campaign. Reeher expressed doubt about Harris being a strong candidate for the Democrats, citing her loss to Trump in 2024, political baggage from California, and perceived mistakes during her earlier campaign.
Formally, no candidate has yet announced their intention to run, making all scenarios in polls hypothetical. Nevertheless, the poll results offer insight into potential dynamics within the Democratic field for the upcoming election cycle.