Kamala Harris to Run in 2028 Despite Crushing Defeat?

Vice President Kamala Harris may have lost the presidency to Donald Trump in a landslide this November, but a fresh poll suggests she remains the Democratic Party’s top hope for 2028.

A Puck News/Echelon Insights survey revealed that 41% of likely Democratic voters favor Harris as their next presidential nominee, dwarfing her closest competitor, California Governor Gavin Newsom, who mustered just 8%. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro followed with 7%, while Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz tied at 6%.

A Rocky 2024 and New Questions for Democrats

Harris’s defeat in 2024 was nothing short of seismic. Trump not only swept the battleground states but also won the popular vote—a stunning reversal of his 2020 loss. Worse for Democrats, Trump made gains in traditionally blue bastions, leaving the party searching for answers.

Still, Harris’s historic profile as the first Black and South Asian woman vice president keeps her in the spotlight. A political strategist close to the Democratic National Committee noted, “Kamala’s appeal remains strong among core Democratic demographics, especially Black women and urban progressives.”

Yet, Harris’s dominance isn’t without its skeptics. Newsom’s aggressive national fundraising and Shapiro’s rising reputation as a swing-state powerhouse hint at potential challenges.

The Rest of the Pack

The poll painted a crowded but divided field. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez secured 4%, showing her clout with younger progressives. Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer landed at 3%, trailed by Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker and Kentucky’s Andy Beshear, each at 2%. Colorado’s Jared Polis and Maryland’s Wes Moore barely registered at 1%.

Meanwhile, Senator Cory Booker, who once promised to bring “a spirit of love” to the presidency during his 2020 bid, found only 2% support this time.

Notably, 16% of Democratic respondents were undecided, and 1% said they wanted someone entirely outside the current lineup.

GOP: All Eyes on JD Vance

Republicans aren’t standing still either. Vice President-elect J.D. Vance leads their early 2028 primary race with 37% support. Former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley and biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy tied at 9%, while Florida Governor Ron DeSantis trailed at 8%. Senators Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio, who has been tapped as Trump’s Secretary of State, rounded out the top tier with 5% each.

A full 18% of Republican respondents remain undecided, leaving the field wide open for ambitious challengers.

Poll Details

The survey, conducted November 14-18 among 1,010 likely voters, carries a margin of error of 3.5 percentage points.

As the 2024 dust settles, both parties face an evolving political landscape. While Harris remains the Democrats’ favorite for now, her ability to unite a fractured base and take on an emboldened GOP in 2028 is far from certain.