Former Vice President Kamala Harris is leading an early look at the 2028 Democratic presidential primary, according to a new survey, as recent moves and remarks add fuel to speculation that she may be considering another White House bid.
Harris drew 31.1 percent support in the latest poll from Florida-based Big Data Poll, ahead of California Governor Gavin Newsom at 20.3 percent and former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg at 10 percent.
Why It Matters
Harris’ standing in the survey signals that—despite past hurdles, including a lackluster 2020 campaign—she remains one of the party’s most recognizable figures and continues to command notable support among Democratic voters. At the same time, Newsom has outperformed her in some other polling, underscoring how unsettled the field remains this far from an election.
What To Know
The results come from a broader survey conducted December 10–12. Big Data Poll asked 1,331 voters nationwide: “If the Democratic primary for the presidential nomination was held today, for whom would you vote?”
Harris led the list, followed by Newsom and Buttigieg. The remaining candidates tested were Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro (6.4 percent), New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (6.3 percent), Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear (3.5 percent), and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer (3.1 percent).
Harris and Newsom have traded front-runner status across multiple 2028 surveys this year—numbers that, given the long runway to the next election, should be treated cautiously. Harris leads in five of the eight most recent national polls tracked by aggregator RaceToTheWhiteHouse.com, while Newsom leads in the other three.
In recent days, Harris—who lost last year’s presidential election to President Donald Trump—has intensified the talk around her political future. On December 10, she announced she was expanding her book tour next year. Then, at a Democratic National Committee (DNC) meeting in Los Angeles on Friday, she urged Democrats to maintain a “clear vision for what comes after the midterms and then after Trump.”
“You,” one audience member shouted, according to multiple reports.
Her DNC remarks were widely viewed as a sharp critique of both major parties and the broader political status quo.
On Thursday, Harris received the UFW Leadership Award from the United Farm Workers union at its annual gala.
Newsom, meanwhile, has gained momentum in some recent polling—an uptick attributed to his public sparring with Trump and a successful redistricting push. Axios described him as the candidate others now have to beat, while noting that rivals have begun highlighting what they see as vulnerabilities.
Axios pointed to controversies including Newsom’s affair with a staffer’s wife during his time as San Francisco mayor and his attendance at an adviser’s birthday dinner at the upscale Napa restaurant The French Laundry during the COVID-19 pandemic. Newsom has apologized for both.
What People Are Saying
UFW President Teresa Romero told Axios: “Rank and file UFW members from towns like Bakersfield, Salinas, Oxnard, and Modesto were excited to see [Harris] and know she’s still fighting for them.”
An adviser to California Governor Gavin Newsom told Axios: “Gavin Newsom and the millions of Democratic volunteers and activists who power our party are squarely focused on winning back the House and stopping Trump in 2026.”
What Happens Next
Harris is set to appear on Jimmy Kimmel Live! next week, according to Axios.
