Kamala Harris' 2028 Chances Nosedive As She Returns To Spotlight
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
Former Vice President Kamala Harris' standing among Democratic voters has plummeted in recent months, according to recent polling by RacetotheWH.
Newsweek has contacted Harris for comment via email.
Why It Matters
The downturn marks a sharp reversal for one of the party's most recognizable figures. Harris, who stepped in as the Democratic candidate in 2024 following President Joe Biden's late withdrawal amid concerns over his age and mental fitness, ultimately lost to President Donald Trump in the general election, securing 226 Electoral College votes to the Republican's 312.
Her recent decision not to enter California's 2026 gubernatorial race had reignited speculation about whether she is weighing another presidential run in 2028.
Kamala Harris speaks at Howard University in Washington, D.C., on November 6, 2024.
Kamala Harris speaks at Howard University in Washington, D.C., on November 6, 2024.
ANGELA WEISS/AFP/Getty Images
What To Know
The latest data on August 4 shows Harris with just 21.1 percent support in the 2028 Democratic presidential primary field, marking a 14-point drop since March and down 13.7 percentage points from the beginning of the year, when she stood at 34.8 percent on January 1.
Several of her would-be rivals, including former Transport Secretary Pete Buttigieg and California Governor Gavin Newsom, have gained ground over the same period.
Buttigieg has climbed to 17.4 percent, up from 10 percent in March and just 7 percent in January. Newsom rose to 12.7 percent, up from his January figure of 7.3 percent, while New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez surged to 11.9 percent, up from 2.9 percent in January. New Jersey Senator Cory Booker and Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro also posted modest gains.
The figures were published by RacetotheWH, a U.S.-based pollster with a strong track record since its launch in 2020. The site is following the latest presidential primary polls for the 2028 election. Its data shows Harris' support has nosedived since spring:
March 1: 35.1 percent
April 1: 34.9 percent
May 10: 27.2 percent
June 1: 24 percent
July 10: 24 percent
August 4: 21.1 percent
The latest figures come on the heels of Harris' return to the national spotlight. In her first public interview since losing to Trump, she spoke with Stephen Colbert on The Late Show, expressing disillusionment with national politics.
She had announced the day before that she would not be running for California governor.
Meanwhile, her announcement that she is publishing a book about her failed 2024 presidential campaign, titled 107 Days, with reference to the period she spent vying with Trump, has been panned by conservative critics.
What People Are Saying
Kamala Harris told Stephen Colbert on The Late Show on Thursday night: "Recently I made the decision that I—just for now—I don't want to go back in the system. I think it's broken.
"I always believed, that as fragile as our democracy is, our systems would be strong enough to defend our most fundamental principles. And I think right now that they're not as strong as they need to be. And for now I don't want to go back into that system."
What Happens Next
RacetotheWH will continue to monitor national and state-level polling trends as potential candidates position themselves for the next presidential cycle.
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