Newsom Tops 2028 Democratic Presidential Polling
Recent polling by Emerson University indicates that California Governor Gavin Newsom is leading the pack for the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination. His support stands at 25%, which is a notable increase of 13 points since the June poll.
In comparison, former Transport Secretary Pete Buttigieg garnered 16% of voter support, while former Vice President Kamala Harris, the party’s candidate in 2024, received just 11%. The poll also revealed that 5% of voters favor Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, with Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez each receiving 4%.
Newsom’s rising popularity is particularly evident among younger voters. In fact, he experienced a 12-point surge among those aged 30 and under, now sitting at 45% support compared to only 28% for Buttigieg.
Interestingly, in a hypothetical matchup against JD Vance and a potential Democratic vice presidential candidate, voters remain somewhat split with 44% showing support but 12% still undecided. In a previous Emerson College poll from July, Vance held a slight lead at 45% compared to Newsom’s 42%.
Kimball, a spokesperson for the polling organization, noted that Newsom’s gains primarily stem from his increased support among younger voters, who had been more divided just a couple of months ago.
As term limits constrain Newsom in California, there is increasing speculation that he may be positioning himself for a run at the White House. He seems to be adopting elements of a communication style reminiscent of former President Donald Trump, according to recent observations.
Additionally, Newsom’s efforts to revise California’s congressional maps have made headlines. This action aims to potentially create up to five new Democratic-leaning seats in response to what he perceives as the GOP’s manipulations of constituency boundaries in Texas. Richard Hudson, chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, has criticized these moves as undermining California’s constitution and disenfranchising voters.
When questioned about his presidential ambitions, Newsom appeared cautious, stating he hasn’t specifically thought about a 2028 campaign, emphasizing that political dynamics can shift considerably.
The Emerson College Polling survey took place between August 25 and 26, with a sample of 1,000 active registered voters across the U.S. The poll’s margin of error is plus or minus 3 percentage points.
