New poll shows who currently leads potential 2028 Democratic presidential field

[TheProle]

Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has pulled ahead in the early contest for the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination, edging out other high-profile names in a party still searching for its next standard-bearer, according to a new national survey.

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A June Emerson College Polling survey, published on Friday, finds Buttigieg, who is gay, leading the Democratic field with support from 16 percent of likely primary voters. Former Vice President Kamala Harris, who once dominated early polling, has slipped to 13 percent, followed closely by California Gov. Gavin Newsom at 12 percent.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and New York U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez each earn 7 percent, while Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders captures 5 percent and New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker 3 percent. Nearly one in four Democratic voters, 23 percent, remain undecided.

https://www.advocate.com/politics/pete-buttigieg-presidential-run-poll

[Fiendish Thingy]

1. Meaningless name recognition poll

None of the people named in the poll will be the 2028 nominee, and most of them won’t even run.

Unless something significant changes in DNC power structure, whether we like it or not, the nominee will be a straight, white man not named Newsom or Shapiro.

Currently, I would say the potential candidates with the best odds to raise enough money and win enough delegates are Chris Murphy and Andy Beshear.

The narrative from the consultant class (the enemy of the people) is that only a straight white male can win enough male voters.

I don’t agree with that strategy or perspective, but, at least at the moment, that is the “conventional wisdom” among the business-as-usual folks.

[Frasier Balzov]

3. I saw Andy Beshear on MSNBC the other day.

He looked promising as a presidential candidate, he really did.

[Takket]

16. exactly...........

[SocialDemocrat61]

17. True

Polls this early are useless.

[Tribetime]

19. Tell me the real poll when we vote in the Primaries 8n 3 yrs

[Frasier Balzov]

2. This is from The Advocate.

So it stands to reason that Secretary Pete might do well.

[TheProle]

4. Except that it clearly says it is an Emerson poll in the excerpt...

https://emersoncollegepolling.com/june-national-poll/

[Frasier Balzov]

11. An Emerson poll of readers of The Advocate perhaps.

[TheProle]

12. Ah, willful ignorance...

Or it could merely be that the Advocate is covering the poll because Pete is leading and it’s Pride Month.

Sorry if this thread got too gay for you, but the polling has absolutely nothing to do with the publication.

[kerouac2]

5. All would be excellent but that doesn't matter in 'merica

Too many folks want a middle aged straight white Christian dude. The sane, decent people will vote for the dem after this travesty anyway, but that apparently isn't enough to win. Newsome has been vilified as a West Coast woke lefty traitor so idk about him. We prob need a white dude as running mate too because our country is so lame.

Sorry to say, and yes it stinks and maybe it's pessimistic and all that but this is some serious $hit we gotta get out of and we are surrounded by small minded, selfish, ignorant voters.

[Melon]

6. Harris and Sanders are unelectable...

So let’s start there. What would sanders be? 86. Let’s trim it down and only front our best…electable candidates and not waste time or money on those who repeatedly can’t get it done.

[Renew Deal]

7. Sanders would be 87 in 2028

[SSJVegeta]

8. Sanders has made clear he wont run. His votes would likely go to AOC tying her with Newsom for 2nd place

Which is basically a 3 way sratistixal tie for first

[W_HAMILTON]

15. Where has he made that clear?

Just as recently as within the past few weeks, he was asked directly if he would run in 2028 -- by Joe Rogan, on his podcast ( ) -- and rather than flat out say "no," Sanders gave some slick politician non-answer like, "I'm 80-something, I don't think America would be too enthusiastic."

[SSJVegeta]

21. ...

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/23/us/politics/aoc-sanders-democrats-2028.html?smtyp=cur&smid=fb-nytimes&fbclid=IwY2xjawLRfmxleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHvTlJkVwJAfBqebJMYpxb2gAaR0OV5yhmscJwl5yAAJiLXFl_2LJfl7r11Yf_aem_4mRAZv2rds01R7oq_TRO2A

[W_HAMILTON]

22. I had to go through the story to find a linked story where Sanders himself responded...

...and it was another politician answer: he "doesn't think" he will run..

When a politician gives non-answers to simple yes or no questions, I've learned what that means.

So, no, it looks like Sanders has NOT ruled out yet another run, even though him doing so would be best both for the party and the progressive movement.

[SSJVegeta]

24. To me, it's clear. He isnt running.

Whether he intends to or not, it simply isnt happening.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

10. Tan rested and ready!

[Ping Tung]

9. You will be able to spot the leaders when the media invent entertaining scandals about them.

Jefferson was a dreamer when he said this

"Whenever the people are well-informed, they can be trusted with their own government."

The "people" aren't interested in being "well informed" they prefer scandals, bling, and being dazzled.

[kwolf68]

13. We assume

There will be elections in 2028? Hell, will there be any in 2026?

[writerJT]

18. "Undecided" leads the poll.

Thankfully

[JustAnotherGen]

20. I don't think

The next Presidential election will be business as usual. The bright side of the evil maga Repubs is that when they fall - it will be mighty.

The electorate will be different and if we have the will . . . we could be one person, one vote.