Kamala Harris tops Newsom, Shapiro in early 2028 primary favorites: Poll

Vice President Kamala Harris is the favored choice among Democratic voters to lead the party in the 2028 presidential election, according to a new poll. Despite losing to President-elect Donald Trump earlier this month, Harris outpaces potential contenders like California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro by wide margins.  

Echelon Insights surveyed 1,010 likely voters between Nov. 14 and Nov. 18, 2024, finding that 41% of Democrats would back Harris in a hypothetical 2028 primary.

Newsom received 8% support, Shapiro received 7%, and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Harris’ running mate, both tied at 6%. Other notable names included Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., at 4%, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer at 3% and several others trailing below 2%.

Harris lost the 2024 presidential election, securing just 226 Electoral College votes to Trump’s 312. Trump also won the popular vote and swept key battleground states.

In her concession speech at Howard University, Harris emphasized resilience and called on Americans to “respect the results of the outcome.”

On the Republican side, 37% of GOP voters backed Vice President-elect JD Vance for 2028, with Nikki Haley and Vivek Ramaswamy tied at 9%. Ramaswamy has since been appointed to co-lead the Department of Government Efficiency alongside business magnate Elon Musk.  

Harris has not announced her political plans but has indicated she remains committed to public service. Sixteen percent of Democratic voters polled said they were undecided about their 2028 preferences.