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By Anna Commander
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A new poll from Echelon Insights on Tuesday shows potential top Democratic and Republican primary contenders for the 2028 presidential election, showing former Vice President Kamala Harris still leading the pack of potential Democrats and Vice President JD Vance still leading potential Republicans.
The poll was released after Harris said she is "thinking about" another run at the White House, and other polls surveying voters on their 2028 thoughts. Vance also previously said he is planning to sit down with the president after the midterms to discuss the 2028 election.
Why It Matters
Early positioning by potential candidates has carried added weight, as polling since 2025 has suggested close hypothetical contests between Vance and prominent Democrats while highlighting uncertainty within both parties.
Read More on Politics
Within the Democratic field, surveys in 2026 showed Harris leading prospective primary voters overall in many polls, with California Governor Gavin Newsom and New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez also drawing measurable support, along with former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.
No candidate has formally announced their candidacy.
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What To Know
According to the new poll, Harris has 22 percent of the potential vote compared to Newsom's 21 percent, Buttigieg's 12 percent and Ocasio-Cortez's 10 percent. The poll shows 10 percent are unsure.
The poll also shows Vance with 42 percent of the vote compared to Secretary of State Marco Rubio's 14 percent, Donald Trump Jr.'s 10 percent, and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis' 8 percent. The survey also shows 13 percent are unsure.
The poll surveyed 1,012 voters in the likely electorate from April 17 to April 20, 2026, and has a 3.5 percent margin of error.
In a similar survey last month, when asked: "If the 2028 Democratic presidential primary were being held today, for whom would you vote?" 21 percent said Harris, compared to Newsom's 19 percent, Ocasio-Cortez's 11 percent and Buttigieg's 9 percent. The survey showed that 12 percent were unsure.
Vance was also the front-runner of potential Republican candidates in the March poll with 40 percent compared to Rubio's 16 percent, Trump Jr.'s 9 percent, and DeSantis' 5 percent along with former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley's 5 percent. The poll showed that 13 percent were unsure.
Compared to last month, Newsom is making slight progress, along with Buttigieg, but still within the margin of error. Similarly, Rubio declined a bit compared to last month, and DeSantis gained.
Last month's poll surveyed 1,033 nationally registered voters in the likely electorate from March 12 to March 16, 2026, and had a margin of error of 3.4 percent.
D. Stephen Voss, political science professor at the University of Kentucky, told Newsweek via email on Tuesday night: "Polls two years out from a presidential election do not tell us much about who will win the nomination battle. They reflect name recognition, mostly — but being well known doesn't guarantee voter support. Frontrunners often collapse quickly, while newcomers can rise once the electorate gets to know them. Even a year from now, the polls may not be predictive."
When To Expect 2028 Presidential Candidate List
Potential presidential candidates typically throw their name into the race after the midterm elections.
Update 4/21/26, 11:22 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with comment from Voss.
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