Kamala’s Decline — Survey Reveals Democrats’ 2028 Presidential Options Are All Weak Choices

Democratic Landscape Shifts After 2024 Election

Since the disappointing result in November, Democrats have been reflecting on their situation, which isn’t unusual after a major loss. Following the findings from recent opinion polls, Kamala Harris has emerged as a frontrunner for the 2028 nomination, outpacing her nearest competitors—former Transport Secretary Pete Buttigieg and California Governor Gavin Newsom.

So, what can change in six months?

Interestingly, while Kamala Harris has shown a lead, there seems to be a lack of enthusiasm surrounding her potential campaign against the California governor. There’s some buzz about the upcoming elections, with Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio preparing for their own considerations.

Former Transport Secretary Pete Buttigieg: 16%

Kamala Harris: 13%

Governor Gavin Newsom: 12%

Governor Josh Shapiro: 7%

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez: 7%

A significant portion—about 35%—of voters remain undecided, which indicates a scattered sentiment among the Democratic candidates.

Honestly, it feels like one of the weakest pools of presidential candidates I’ve seen.

Let’s break this down a bit. Buttigieg, for instance, is tied to the $7.5 billion push for electric charging infrastructure, which is ambitious, but… well, it’s unclear how that resonates nationally. There’s also a lingering hesitation about electing someone openly gay, especially given recent conversations around LGBTQ+ issues.

As for Kamala, she’s already faced a defeat—her political acumen has not shown significant growth during her time as vice president. It’s hard to imagine her rising to the occasion.

Newsom’s approach feels radical too. His pitch of bringing California’s policies to the national level might seem threatening rather than appealing.

On the other hand, Shapiro might be a viable candidate, but anti-Semitism issues within the party create barriers for him. Ocasio-Cortez has a unique presence online, but it’s hard to see her commanding the seriousness needed for a presidential run.

If you compare the current Democratic lineup to past candidates, it’s quite concerning.

1992: Bill Clinton, Bob Kerry, Tom Harkin, Paul Tsongas, Jerry Brown

2000: Al Gore, Bill Bradley

2004: John Kerry, John Edwards, Howard Dean, Wesley Clark

2008: Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton

2016: Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders

2020: Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, Michael Bloomberg, Pete Buttigieg

Sure, some of those names can seem outdated now, but the reality is that the current Democratic lineup faces a more daunting challenge than before. Who’s waiting in the wings? Kathy Hochul? JB Pritzker? Hakeem Jeffries?

Meanwhile, the Republican side appears more fortified with Vance, Rubio, Vivek Ramaswamy, and Ron DeSantis. Their current standing seems strong, particularly with Vance and Rubio polling at 46% in the upcoming presidential election.

In this same survey, DeSantis garnered 9%, and there are only 17% undecided voters left. Of course, external factors like economic downturns or scandals could shift things, but for now, the landscape looks pretty firm.