This article may contain commentary
which reflects the author’s opinion.
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.
Among Democrats surveyed, 50 percent said they would support Harris as their party’s nominee in 2028. 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.
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.
Advertisement
On the Republican side, Vance led the field with 48 percent support, nearly three times higher than his closest competitor. Donald Trump Jr. placed second with 18 percent, followed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio at 16 percent.
Florida Gov. 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.
Advertisement
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.
Harris has not formally announced whether she will run again but has signaled she is considering another bid. Speaking at Rev. 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
“Listen, I might, I might. I’m thinking about it,” Harris said. “I’ll keep you posted.”
She added that her previous experience gives her a clear understanding of the role.
“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
President Trump has also publicly praised Vance as a potential future leader of the Republican Party. 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.”
Trump later reiterated his belief that the next Republican nominee is likely already within his administration.
“It’s not going to be me, it’s going to be somebody that’s… probably sitting at this table,” he said during a separate appearance.
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.
