Young Democrats Favor Kamala Harris for 2028 Presidential Run

A recent poll has shown former Vice President Kamala Harris leading among young Democrats in a hypothetical 2028 presidential race. Harris was chosen by 28.7% of Democratic participants aged 18 to 34. This is nearly double the 14.9% who preferred former First Lady Michelle Obama. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, or AOC, followed with 11.7% support. The Axios-Generation Lab poll surveyed 1,075 American adults aged 18-34 from July 29 to August 4. None of these women have announced plans for a 2028 campaign.

Among young independents, Obama was favored, receiving 11.4%. AOC followed with 9.2%, with Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders at 7.4%. For young Republicans, Vice President JD Vance had a strong lead at 31.5%. Donald Trump Jr. followed with 10.7%, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio received 9.7%.

The poll also highlighted dissatisfaction among younger Americans. Sixty-six percent disapproved of President Donald Trump’s performance. Additionally, 96% expressed concern about the cost of essentials like rent and groceries. Generation Lab CEO Cyrus Beschloss noted a generalized dissatisfaction with the president, economy, and both political parties.

Among those polled, 37% identified as Democrats, 26% as Republicans, and 29% as independents. The poll had a margin of error of +/- 3.01 percentage points.

Harris, Obama, and AOC in the Poll

Harris, with 28.7% support, surpassed the combined backing for Obama and Ocasio-Cortez, who collectively received 26.6%. Although Harris led, she did not secure a majority, indicating an unsettled Democratic field.

Of these three women, only Harris has run for the presidency or held national elected office. She succeeded former President Joe Biden as the Democratic candidate in 2024, later losing to Trump. Harris also dismissed the idea of running for California governor in 2026, which left room for a future White House bid.

Obama’s second-place finish is noteworthy given her lack of political office experience, and her previous statements dismissing the idea of running for president. In 2018, she stated politics was not her path and she did not want the presidency. Obama also had more support from independents, securing 11.4%, compared to AOC’s 9.2%.

AOC, elected to Congress in 2018, is well-known for her progressive policies on climate, housing, and economic inequality. Despite her prominence, she trailed Harris by 17 points among young Democrats and was 3.2 points behind Obama.

Youth Opposition to Trump and GOP

The poll further revealed significant opposition to Trump among young Americans. Sixty-six percent disapproved of his performance, with 54% strongly disapproving, while 34% approved. As for party trust in reducing living costs, 32% trusted Republicans more, while 26% backed Democrats. Notably, 36% trusted neither party, showing a 14-point lead over the GOP.

Economic concerns also featured prominently among surveyed young people. Nearly all expressed worries about essential costs; however, less than a quarter trusted the president’s party to alleviate these expenses. This underscores dissatisfaction with both major parties rather than a clear leaning towards Democrats.

Polls have often underestimated Trump’s popularity, with him outperforming expectations in past presidential campaigns. Newsweek reached out to the White House for comment. White House spokesperson Davis Ingle had previously remarked that the 2024 election would be the “ultimate poll.”