A glance at the leading Democratic presidential candidates for 2028 looks like a plate of reheated leftovers. The latest poll results show former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg "leading" the Dem field at 16%, followed by Kamala Harris at 13%, California Gov. Gavin Newsom at 12%, and everyone else in single digits.
Harris' position is particularly noteworthy, as it represents a 24-point plunge from the same poll taken last November. "When it comes to her, I think there's just so much anger among Democrats in the type of campaign she ran, and that more wasn't done earlier about Joe Biden," says Jeff Crouere, political analyst and host. "Boy, she has taken a tumble, and she really hasn't helped herself, because she hasn't done much media, she hasn't even tried to defend her campaign, she's been mostly silent for these past few months."
A further look down the list of '28 Dem candidates shows Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez both at 7%. Shapiro seems to be a rising star, but because he's Jewish he faces headwinds from the growing anti-Israel sentiment in the party. At the same time, current Dem party leaders are underwater with their own voters, leaving a leadership vacuum. "There's no Barack Obama on the horizon, no rock star that is looming out there for the Democrats," says Crouere.
"Democrats are in a really tough situation," he continues. "It doesn't look they are poised to take back Congress in the midterms, and their numbers as far as popularity are very low. It is a party in disarray right now, and they certainly need some new leadership."