Jon Ossoff Gains Attention in Early 2028 Democratic Presidential Polling

Senator Jon Ossoff is showing growth in early polling focused on the potential 2028 Democratic presidential candidates. Support has waned for former Vice President Kamala Harris and California Governor Gavin Newsom.

Current Polling Landscape

The pattern of candidates announcing their candidacies kicks off post-midterms, but some take the plunge earlier. As of now, no one in the poll has officially declared their run for the 2028 presidential race.

Ossoff previously expressed no interest in a presidential bid for 2028. Despite this, the poll places him at 7 percent, a stark rise from prior numbers. Morning Consult highlights him as a notable figure after his support more than doubled from 3 percent in an earlier poll. Starting from merely 1 percent in May, he remains the only Democrat with consistent gains across three survey waves.

Kamala Harris leads with 24 percent, trailed by Gavin Newsom at 12 percent and former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg at 9 percent. The poll surveyed 2,203 registered voters from August 28-30, maintaining a margin of error of approximately 2 percentage points. Responses reflect each party’s primary voter preferences.

The Democratic race appears stable at the top but dynamic beneath. Harris has retained her position through five polling waves, while Newsom dipped from 19 percent in June. Throughout, Ossoff has ascended.

Ossoff’s Increased Visibility

Ossoff’s rise in the polls comes amid national attention, especially concerning his confrontational stance towards President Donald Trump. At an August rally, he criticized Trump’s management of the Iran conflict and other priorities, spotlighting Trump aide Natalie Harp.

“He doesn’t want to do the job,” Ossoff claimed. “He wants to build his ballroom and travel with Natalie.”

Trump retaliated, likening Ossoff to Pee-wee Herman. Ossoff reveled in the attention, describing the White House’s reaction as a “meltdown.”

Additional Poll Insights

Other polls reinforce Harris’s lead but show variance in her margin. A Rasmussen Reports poll gives Harris 37 percent support among Democratic voters, with Newsom trailing at 14 percent. Ocasio-Cortez stands at 9 percent, while Buttigieg garners 8 percent.

Conversely, an Emerson College poll reveals Buttigieg leading with 19 percent, Newsom at 17 percent, while Ossoff and Ocasio-Cortez each secure 13 percent. Harris dips to 8 percent, with other governors receiving lower figures.

Republican Field Developments

Movement is also observed in the Republican field. Marco Rubio saw a notable rise to 22 percent support in the latest poll, climbing 7 percentage points.

Vice President JD Vance holds a lead at 36 percent, though it’s his lowest recorded level so far. Rubio and Vance are the only Republicans currently achieving double-digit support in these polls.

Though no official candidacies for the 2028 race exist, Ossoff expresses disinterest. Harris remains contemplative, Ocasio-Cortez aims to “change the world,” and Newsom is undecided.