New Poll Shows Top 2028 Democratic, Republican Candidates for President

A new poll from Echelon Insights released on Monday shows the leading potential presidential candidates from both major political parties.

Why It Matters

Early polls have gained significance as potential contenders for the 2028 presidential election begin to emerge. Even with the election still years away, polling offers potential insight into candidate viability, voter sentiment and evolving party dynamics, particularly after the pivotal 2024 election cycle.

What To Know

According to the poll, California Governor Gavin Newsom leads potential Democratic candidates with 24 percent versus former Vice President Kamala Harris’ 18 percent and New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s 9 percent. Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg landed 8 percent of the potential vote in the poll, when those surveyed were asked whom they would vote for if the Democratic primary took place today.

When asked if they had to choose between Harris and Newsom, 44 percent said definitely or probably Harris and 45 percent said definitely or probably Newsom.

The poll also shows that if the Republican primary were held today, 37 percent would vote for Vice President JD Vance. Donald Trump Jr. received 14 percent of the hypothetical vote, Secretary of State Marco Rubio landed 11 percent and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis garnered 8 percent.

The poll surveyed 1,002 likely voters from February 19 to February 23 and has a margin of error of 3.5 percent.

What People Are Saying

Columbia University professor Robert Y. Shapiro, to Newsweek via email on Monday: “These polls do not have much weight toward the nomination outcome itself at this time. As the primary election season nears these polls become useful for candidates to show their potential viability, which will help the candidates toward getting campaign contributions. Donors will look for appealing candidates who show the potential for significant electoral support. And the polls can lead to more attention to less well known candidates. Harris is already well known but Newsom and others less so. These polls then are more important for Newsom and others.”

Trump, in August during a news conference when asked if Vance is the MAGA successor: “Well, I think most likely in all fairness, he’s the vice president. I think Marco [Rubio] is also somebody that maybe would get together with JD in some form. I also think we have incredible people, some of the people on the stage right here, so it’s too early obviously to talk about it but certainly he’s doing a great job, and he would be probably favored at this point.”