Kamala Harris leads early 2028 Democratic field despite 2024 defeat; JD Vance tops GOP poll

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 06: Former Vice President Kamala Harris speaks at the State of the People POWER Tour opening ceremony on June 6, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.

Despite her crushing defeat to Donald Trump in the 2024 US presidential election, former Vice President Kamala Harris has emerged as the early frontrunner for the 2028 Democratic nomination, according to a new poll conducted by Echelon Insights.

The survey shows Harris commanding 26 per cent support among Democrats and Democratic-leaning voters, putting her far ahead of any other potential candidate in the early stages of the race.

Buttigieg and Newsom trail Harris by double digits

In a new poll for the 2028 Democratic presidential race, Vice President Kamala Harris leads by a wide margin, with Pete Buttigieg and Gavin Newsom trailing far behind at 11 per cent and 10 per cent, respectively. About 13 per cent of Democrats remain undecided. When Harris was removed from a version of the poll, amid earlier speculation she might run for California governor, the rest of the field saw only small increases: Buttigieg and Newsom each rose to 12 per cent, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez reached 9 per cent, Cory Booker gained 8 per cent, and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz entered the top ranks with 7 per cent.

JD Vance dominates early Republican field

In the early 2028 Republican primary race, Vice President JD Vance is the clear frontrunner with 42 per cent support, far ahead of his closest rival, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who trails at 9 per cent. Other contenders include Senator Marco Rubio (7 per cent), Nikki Haley (6 per cent), and Robert F Kennedy Jr, now running as a Republican, with 5 per cent. Vivek Ramaswamy follows at 4 per cent, while 16 per cent of voters remain undecided. Among outsider candidates, entrepreneur Mark Cuban polls at 3 per cent, and both Stephen A Smith and Jon Stewart have 1 per cent support each.

While it’s still early days in the 2028 race, the poll offers a glimpse into how the parties may be shaping up post-Trump era politics. Harris’s strong showing indicates she still holds significant sway within Democratic circles despite her 2024 loss, possibly due to name recognition and the absence of a clear successor.