Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg is rapidly emerging as one of the Democratic Party’s top potential contenders for 2028, according to a newly released national poll that highlights growing uncertainty inside the party after President Donald Trump’s political resurgence.
The Emerson College Poll released Thursday found Buttigieg leading a hypothetical Democratic presidential primary field with 18% support among likely Democratic voters. California Gov. Gavin Newsom followed closely behind at 16%, while progressive Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez received 11%.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and former Vice President Kamala Harris each earned 10% support, while Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear came in at 9%. Another 18% of voters said they remain undecided, signaling that many Democrats are still searching for a direction after disappointing election losses.
The poll suggests Buttigieg is steadily rebuilding his national profile as Democrats prepare for what could become a fierce internal battle over the party’s future.
Support for Buttigieg, Ocasio-Cortez, and Beshear has increased slightly in recent months, while both Newsom and Harris appear to be losing momentum with voters. Harris, who struggled to energize key voting blocs during the 2024 election cycle, has continued to leave the door open for another White House run.
Meanwhile, Buttigieg has done little to quiet growing speculation surrounding his own political ambitions.
During an appearance at the National Action Network conference last month, activist Al Sharpton jokingly asked Buttigieg whether he should reserve another table for him at Harlem’s famous Sylvia’s Restaurant ahead of another presidential campaign.
“You save me a seat, I’ll be there,” Buttigieg responded, drawing laughter while avoiding a direct answer about 2028.
Newsom, widely viewed as another leading Democrat contender, has spent years building national attention through repeated clashes with President Trump and conservative leaders. Critics of the California governor often point to rising living costs, homelessness, crime concerns, and business departures from the state as major vulnerabilities if he launches a national campaign.
Ocasio-Cortez has also fueled speculation about her long-term ambitions. Earlier this month, she dismissed questions about seeking political office for status or power, instead saying her broader goal is to reshape the country’s future.
The Emerson survey was conducted May 24-25 among 1,000 likely voters nationwide. The Democratic primary sample included 432 likely Democratic voters and carried a credibility interval of 4.7 percentage points.
Even though the 2028 election remains years away, early polling already shows Democrats struggling to unite behind a single vision as President Trump continues to dominate the national political conversation and reshape the Republican Party around his America First agenda.
With several high-profile Democrats maneuvering for position, the fight for control of the party may soon become one of the most closely watched political battles in the country.