Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg leads a new poll in New Hampshire for the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination, followed closely by Gavin Newsom and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
MANCHESTER, N.H. — A recent poll conducted in New Hampshire reveals that former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg is the frontrunner among potential Democratic presidential candidates for the 2028 election. The survey indicates that 20% of Democratic primary voters in the state would support Buttigieg if the nomination contest were held today.
California Governor Gavin Newsom and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York are tied for second place, each garnering 15% support. Former Vice President Kamala Harris and Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona follow closely behind at 10% each, while all other candidates remain in single digits.
The University of New Hampshire Survey Center released the poll on Thursday, just hours before Buttigieg arrived in the state to campaign alongside Democratic candidates for the upcoming midterm elections. When asked about the poll results by Fox News Digital, Buttigieg acknowledged, “I’m not on any ballot right now,” but expressed gratitude for the positive reception he has received in New Hampshire, a state where he previously finished a close second in the 2020 Democratic primary.
This visit marks Buttigieg’s third trip to an early voting state since stepping down as transportation secretary at the end of the Biden administration. His previous visits included stops in South Carolina and Iowa. While he has largely avoided discussions about the 2028 election, Buttigieg has indicated that he is considering what he can contribute to a potential campaign.
During his three-day visit to New Hampshire, Buttigieg is supporting Rep. Chris Pappas, who is the leading candidate for the Democratic Senate nomination to succeed retiring Senator Jeanne Shaheen. Shaheen’s seat is considered a top target for Republicans in the upcoming midterms. Buttigieg is also scheduled to participate in additional events with New Hampshire Democrats, including a grassroots mobilization event aimed at rallying support from his 2020 campaign backers.
Looking ahead, Buttigieg plans to travel to battleground Nevada next week, with intentions to campaign for candidates in Ohio, Georgia, and Pennsylvania in the coming weeks. He emphasized the importance of engaging with voters across a diverse geographical landscape, stating, “I’m a big believer in going everywhere across the media landscape and geographically. Some are well-known places on the political map. Some are a little bit off the beaten path. All of them deserve attention.”
Meanwhile, Newsom is set to make his own appearance in New Hampshire as part of a promotional tour for his new book, “Young Man in a Hurry.” His visit to Portsmouth on March 5 will mark his first trip to the state in two years. Recently, Newsom made headlines by participating in the high-profile Munich Security Conference in Germany, where he was one of the few potential Democratic presidential contenders to speak.
Ocasio-Cortez also attended the Munich conference, but her participation has drawn criticism following a gaffe during a panel discussion. When asked whether the U.S. should send troops to defend Taiwan from a potential Chinese invasion, Ocasio-Cortez appeared to hesitate for nearly 20 seconds before suggesting that the U.S. should aim to avoid conflict with China over Taiwan. Her comments sparked backlash on social media, with some critics labeling her remarks as incoherent.
Even within her own party, Ocasio-Cortez faced scrutiny. A veteran Democratic strategist, speaking anonymously, remarked to Fox News Digital, “It is abundantly clear that AOC is not ready for prime time given her remarks in Europe.”
As the 2028 presidential race begins to take shape, the dynamics among these leading candidates will be closely watched, particularly as they navigate the challenges of campaigning in a politically charged environment.
According to Fox News Digital, the early polling results reflect the shifting landscape of Democratic leadership as potential candidates position themselves for the future.