A new survey shows one Democratic leader pulling far ahead in the race for the 2028 presidential primary.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom is now the top choice among Democratic voters, according to an Emerson College poll. He has 25% support — a sharp rise from June when he had only 12%. That 13-point jump places him well above other potential candidates.
Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg came in second with 16%. Former Vice President Kamala Harris followed with 11%. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro registered 5%, while Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez each earned 4%.
Spencer Kimball, executive director of Emerson College Polling, noted the strength of Newsom’s gains across different groups of voters. Support for him grew 12 points among people under 30 (6% to 18%), 18 points among those over 70 (13% to 31%), and 14 points among both Black (9% to 23%) and White voters (10% to 24%).
Newsom’s rise has coincided with his high-profile clashes with President Donald Trump and MAGA supporters on social media. From his press account on X, he has mocked the president’s online posts and given rivals new nicknames, drawing both attention and criticism. Many conservatives accuse him of copying Trump’s style from Truth Social.
At the same time, Republican lawmakers are targeting Newsom for pushing his own redistricting plan in California. The move is meant to counter a Texas GOP strategy, supported by President Trump, to add up to five safe Republican seats before the 2026 midterms. California voters will decide on their own map in a November special election.
On the Republican side, Vice President JD Vance remains far ahead for the 2028 nomination. He has 52% support, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio is at 9% and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has 7%.
In a possible general election matchup between Newsom and Vance, the two are currently tied at 44% each. Twelve percent of voters are undecided. Last month, Vance held a narrow 3-point lead.
Kimball explained that much of Newsom’s recent boost has come from voters between 18 and 29 years old.
The poll surveyed 1,000 registered voters between August 25–26 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.
