Buttigieg leads Democrats in new, hypothetical 2028 poll

The former Biden administration official polled at 18% of the Democratic vote, followed by California Gov. Gavin Newsom at 16%.

By Misty Severi

Published: May 29, 2026 10:05pm

Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg led fellow Democrats in a crowded hypothetical 2028 presidential primary poll released Thursday.

The former Biden administration official, who was a major contender for the Democratic nomination and won the Iowa Caucus in 2020, polled at 18%, followed by California Gov. Gavin Newsom at 16%, according to the Emerson College Poll.

New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez polled third with 11% and former Vice President Kamala Harris tied with Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro at 10% each. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear polled at 9%.

The survey, conducted May 24-25, marked a slight increase for Buttigieg, Ocasio-Cortez, Shapiro and Beshear. But Harris and Newsom, considered frontrunners for the nomination, saw a slight decrease in support.

The Emerson College Polling surveyed 1,000 likely voters with a 3% credibility interval, which is similar to a margin of error. It also polled 432 likely Democratic voters, which had a credibility interval of 4.7%.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.