Kamala Harris Holds Early Lead in 2028 Democratic Primary Poll as Newsom and Buttigieg Gain Ground

Former Vice President Kamala Harris continues to lead the early field of potential Democratic presidential contenders for 2028, according to the latest Voters’ Voice Poll conducted by The Center Square.

The poll, conducted Aug. 12-16 among 2,533 registered voters, found Harris receiving 28% support from Democrats and left-leaning independents asked which of 13 potential candidates they would support if the 2028 Democratic presidential primary were held today.

While the numbers show Harris maintaining a significant position in the early polling, they also reveal a Democratic field that remains wide open, with several candidates showing movement as voters become familiar with more potential contenders.

Harris Maintains Her Position

Harris has remained near the 30% mark throughout The Center Square’s four 2028 primary polls.

Her strongest showing came in October 2025, when 33% of Democratic and left-leaning independent respondents selected her from a list of eight candidates. Her support slipped to 31% in March after five additional candidates were added to the survey.

She received 27% in June before rising slightly to 28% in August.

The latest numbers also show a difference between Democratic voters and left-leaning independents. Among Democrats specifically, Harris received 30% support in August, compared with 20% among left-leaning independents.

That distinction could become increasingly important as the 2028 field develops and candidates compete for voters who may not identify firmly with the Democratic Party.

Newsom Remains Second, But Buttigieg Is Closing the Gap

California Gov. Gavin Newsom remains one of the most prominent names in the early polling, but his support has declined since he was first included in the survey.

Newsom initially received 21% support. After additional candidates were added to the poll in March, his support fell to 16% and has remained at approximately 14% in the June and August surveys.

Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, meanwhile, has moved in the opposite direction.

Buttigieg started at 7% in the October poll before rising to 11% in June and 12% in August.

The latest results therefore show a developing contest behind Harris, with Newsom and Buttigieg occupying the next tier of support.

Harris Shows Strong Support Among Black Voters

One of the most significant findings in the poll involves Harris’s support among Black voters.

According to the survey, 49% of Black respondents selected Harris, giving her a substantial lead over the other candidates. Newsom was the next closest candidate in that demographic at 10%.

Harris also performed particularly well among younger voters.

Among registered voters ages 18 to 29, 47% selected Harris. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was the second-most-popular candidate among that age group at 13%.

The numbers illustrate how different candidates are attracting support from different portions of the Democratic electorate, even at this very early stage of the 2028 presidential conversation.

Harris Leads Among Most Racial Groups

The poll found Harris leading among Hispanic and Latino respondents at 30%.

She also received 37% support among respondents who identified as a race other than white, Black, Hispanic or Latino.

Among white voters, Harris remained the leading candidate at 18%, but the margin was much narrower. Buttigieg followed at 17%, while Newsom received 16%.

The results suggest that Harris’s overall lead is being driven in part by strong support among Black voters and younger voters, while the contest appears considerably tighter among some other demographic groups.

Women and Men Show Different Preferences

Harris also performed better among women than men.

Her lead was particularly strong among female voters, while Newsom came closer to her among male respondents.

The poll also found differences based on age and educational attainment.

Among voters 65 and older, Buttigieg led with 20%, followed by Newsom at 19% and Harris at 13%.

Buttigieg also performed better than Harris among respondents with postgraduate degrees, receiving 18% support compared with Harris’s 15%.

Those numbers highlight how the Democratic electorate is not behaving as one unified bloc when potential 2028 candidates are presented with a broader field.

AOC Shows Strength With Younger and Hispanic Voters

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who was added to the poll in March, continues to show pockets of support despite trailing Harris, Newsom and Buttigieg overall.

Ocasio-Cortez received 13% among voters ages 18 to 29, placing her second in that demographic.

She also received 17% among Hispanic and Latino voters, making her the second choice in that group.

Among independents, Ocasio-Cortez received 10%, compared with 9% for Newsom.

She also performed better than Buttigieg in the Western region, where she received 11% compared with his 9%.

The 2028 Race Is Still Wide Open

While the latest poll places Harris at the top, it is important to remember that the 2028 Democratic presidential primary remains years away.

No candidate has been nominated, and the political environment between now and the first presidential primaries will likely change considerably.

Candidates could enter or leave the race. Voters’ opinions could shift based on national events, the economy, congressional elections, presidential performance and the candidates’ own political decisions.

The poll also demonstrates how much the size of the candidate field can affect individual numbers. Newsom’s support, for example, fell from 21% to 16% when additional candidates were introduced.

In other words, today’s polling numbers provide a snapshot of voter preferences rather than a prediction of who will ultimately win the Democratic nomination.

What the Poll Says Right Now

The August Voters’ Voice Poll provides several notable takeaways:

• Kamala Harris: 28% overall among Democrats and left-leaning independents
• Gavin Newsom: 14%
• Pete Buttigieg: 12%
• Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez: Shows notable support among younger and Hispanic voters
• Harris among Black voters: 49%
• Harris among voters ages 18-29: 47%
• Buttigieg among voters 65 and older: 20%

The survey included 930 Republicans, 930 Democrats and 673 independents. Among the independent respondents, 330 were classified as “true independents,” meaning they did not lean toward either major party.

The poll was conducted through an opt-in online panel and text-to-web cellphone messages and carries a reported margin of error of plus or minus 2 percentage points.

For now, Harris remains the leading name in this particular early snapshot of the 2028 Democratic field. But with the election still years away, the bigger story may be how quickly the numbers can change as more candidates emerge, campaigns take shape and Democratic voters begin paying closer attention to the next presidential race.