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By Anna Commander
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A new Center Square Voters' Voice Poll released this week shows the leading Democratic potential presidential candidates, with former Vice President Kamala Harris leading the pack.
Newsweek reached out to political analysts via email on Thursday for comment.
Why It Matters
Early polls have gained significance as potential contenders for the 2028 presidential election begin to emerge.
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Even with the election still years away, polling offers potential insight into candidate viability, voter sentiment and evolving party dynamics, particularly after the pivotal 2024 election cycle.
What To Know
According to the poll, Harris has 31 percent of the potential vote, California Governor Gavin Newsom has 16 percent, former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has 7 percent, and New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has 6 percent. The survey also shows that 18 percent are not sure when asked which of the 13 Democratic names in the Party they would support in the primary, the poll says.
The survey polled 1,152 Democrats and "left-leaning" Independents from March 2 to March 5, 2026, "with each group weighted to match that party’s national population," the poll notes. The poll was also conducted by Noble Predictive Insights.
The poll shows that 32 percent of Democrats back Harris, along with 18 percent of independents. In an October survey by the pollster, Harris received 27 percent among Independents.
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"Harris proved to be the most popular choice among all racial groups. She remains by far the favored candidate among Black voters, garnering 55% of their support, 29% of Hispanic and Latinos, 25% of whites and 30% of other races grouped together. Hispanic or Latino respondents showed the strongest support for Newsom among all racial groups surveyed, followed by whites, other races grouped together, and Blacks," the poll notes.
A February poll from Echelon Insights showed Newsom leading potential Democratic candidates, with 24 percent, versus Harris at 18 percent and Ocasio-Cortez at 9 percent. Buttigieg landed 8 percent of the potential vote in the poll when respondents were asked whom they would vote for if the Democratic primary were held today.
A new March 2026 survey from Echelon Insights, however, does show Harris now narrowly ahead of Newsom among likely Democratic primary voters.
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What People Are Saying
Former advisor to George W. Bush, Scott Jennings, on X in February: "We need to unite as Americans and will this into existence. Kamala Harris 2028." He also added a laughing face emoji to the post.
Columbia University professor Robert Y. Shapiro, to Newsweek via email last month, when asked about the Echelon Insights poll: "These polls do not have much weight toward the nomination outcome itself at this time. As the primary election season nears these polls become useful for candidates to show their potential viability, which will help the candidates toward getting campaign contributions. Donors will look for appealing candidates who show the potential for significant electoral support. And the polls can lead to more attention to less well known candidates. Harris is already well known but Newsom and others less so. These polls then are more important for Newsom and others."
What Happens Next
Potential candidates typically throw their name into the race after the midterm elections are over.
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