With the November midterms only weeks away, some are already looking ahead as buzz around potential 2028 presidential candidates has grown, with new polling showing clear frontrunners for both the GOP and the Democrats.
In a new poll released Thursday, Sept. 24, by McLaughlin & Associates,
a showdown between vice presidents could be in the cards, as former Vice President Kamala Harris and current Vice President JD Vance lead their respective hypothetical primaries.Thursday’s poll is the latest 2028 presidential primary poll showing Harris and Vance leading, with other recent polls, including one by YouGov/Bowling Green State University, showing the prospective candidates ahead of their packs.
According to the poll, Harris leads among Democrats
with 29% support. Her nearest challenger, California Gov. Gavin Newsom, came in with 12% support, with former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg at 9%; 15% of Democrats polled said they were undecided.
Among Republicans, Vance leads with 35% of primary voters; the battle for second is closer, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio at 15% and President Donald Trump’s son, Donald Trump Jr., at 14%; 12% of Republicans said they were undecided.
The poll surveyed 463 likely voters from Sept. 16 to Sept. 22, according to McLaughlin & Associates.
Has anyone said they plan to campaign?
As of Sept. 25, no, but some potential candidates have already seemingly signaled their intentions ahead of 2028.
Earlier this month, Newsom spoke with CNN and said he would not run in 2028 if Harris decided to campaign for the seat a second time. The California governor made the statement during a fishing trip in Montana with CNN’s Jake Tapper, after the reporter asked about his presidential ambitions if Harris joined the race.
On the Republican side, Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas fueled speculation about another White House bid.
"It’s no secret that I want to be president," Cruz said in August on Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s podcast.
While Cruz signaled his potential to run, Rubio has sought to subdue speculation, although he did not completely rule out a campaign.
"I don't know what the future holds, but I have no plans at this time," Rubio said during an official visit to Colombia earlier this month. "I'm not a candidate for anything right now. And I’m 100% focused on my job, and I have to be because I have two jobs.”
Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at fernando.cervantes@usatodayco.com and follow him on X @fern_cerv_.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Early 2028 primary poll shows clear frontrunners for both parties
