Poll Shows Vance And Harris As Early 2028 Front-Runners

A new national survey suggests early preferences are taking shape for the 2028 presidential race, with Vice President JD Vance and former Vice President Kamala Harris emerging as leading choices among their respective parties.

The Harvard/Harris poll asked Democrats and Republicans to identify their top candidates for the next presidential election. The results show Harris holding a strong lead among Democratic voters, while Vance commands a sizable advantage among Republicans.

Harris previously ran in the 2024 election after stepping in as the Democratic nominee following former President Joe Biden’s exit from the race, ultimately losing to President Donald Trump.

Among Democrats surveyed, 50 percent said they would support Harris as their party’s nominee in 2028

Other potential Democratic contenders trailed well behind in the survey. California Gov. Gavin Newsom came in second with 22 percent support, followed by Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro at nine percent. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez drew eight percent, while Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker received six percent.

Donald Trump Jr. placed second with 18 percent, followed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio at 16 percent.

Ron DeSantis garnered nine percent support, while commentator Tucker Carlson received four percent. The results highlight Vance’s early dominance within the GOP field as the party looks ahead to the post-Trump era.

Florida Gov

The survey also found that a majority of voters are already thinking about the next presidential election. Sixty-seven percent of respondents said they have given at least some thought to 2028, including 32 percent who said they have thought about it “a lot.”

The poll was conducted between April 23 and April 26, 2026, among 2,745 registered voters. It carries a margin of error of plus or minus 1.87 percentage points.

Al Sharpton’s National Action Network convention, she left the door open to a future campaign.

The TPUSA straw poll from AmFest is out. Thread.

JD Vance won the 2028 nomination straw poll by more than Donald Trump won the 2024 one we did two years ago. pic.twitter.com/86uJLg3VE2

— Blake Neff (@BlakeSNeff) December 22, 2025

might. I’m thinking about it,” Harris said. “I’ll keep you posted.”

“I know what the job is and what it requires,” she said.

Vance, meanwhile, has continued to build support within conservative circles. He was a standout figure at Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest event in December, where he drew strong backing from attendees and activists.

Trump on 2028: "It's not gonna be me" pic.twitter.com/mAFmI1dbt8

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) December 2, 2025

RISING STAR: Rubio's profile soars to 35% in CPAC straw poll amid Venezuela and Iran operations, closing gap with Vance. https://t.co/U6JtzXeHCi

— Fox News Politics (@foxnewspolitics) March 31, 2026

She added that her previous experience gives her a clear understanding of the role

In remarks last year, Trump suggested that Vance and Rubio could form a formidable ticket in a future election.

“We have JD, obviously, the vice president is great. Marco is great,” Trump said. “I’m not sure if anybody would run against those two.”

President Trump has also publicly praised Vance as a potential future leader of the Republican Party

While the 2028 race remains years away, the early polling underscores how both parties are beginning to coalesce around potential standard-bearers. The findings also reflect continued interest among voters in the future direction of the country following the 2024 election cycle.