Kamala Harris might have stumbled hard in the 2024 presidential election, but a new poll suggests she’s far from finished in Democratic politics. According to a Morning Consult survey released on March 21, 2025, the former vice president is the runaway favorite to lead the Democratic Party into the 2028 presidential race, boasting a stunning 36% support among Democratic and Democratic-leaning independent voters. That’s a double-digit lead over her closest rival, former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who limps behind at just 10%. After a crushing defeat to President Donald Trump last November, Harris is proving she’s still a heavyweight in her party—but will she step back into the ring?
A Surprising Comeback in the Polls
Harris’s 2024 campaign was a rollercoaster that ended in a wreck. Despite raising over a billion dollars from donors, she lost the popular vote, the Electoral College, and every single swing state to Trump. It was a brutal blow for the then-60-year-old, who’d hoped to make history as the first woman president. Yet, just months later, she’s bounced back—at least on paper. The Morning Consult poll shows her towering over a crowded field of potential 2028 contenders. California Governor Gavin Newsom, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz (her 2024 running mate), and progressive star Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez each clocked in at a measly 5%. Billionaire Mark Cuban and Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro trailed with 4%, while big names like New Jersey Senator Cory Booker (3%) and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer (2%) barely registered.
What’s behind this early lead? Some say it’s name recognition—Harris has been a national figure for years, first as vice president and then as the 2024 nominee. Others point to lingering loyalty among Democrats who still see her as a symbol of resistance to Trump. Whatever the reason, 13% of voters remain undecided, leaving plenty of room for the race to shift. For now, though, Harris is the one to beat.
What’s Next for Harris?
Here’s the catch: Harris hasn’t said a word about running in 2028. Since her loss, she’s kept a low profile, popping up only occasionally—like at a Broadway show—while reportedly telling allies to “keep her options open.” Some insiders believe she’s eyeing a different prize: the California governorship in 2026, when Gavin Newsom’s term ends. It could be a stepping stone back to the national stage, a chance to rebuild her image after 2024’s disaster. But with Trump revoking security clearances for her and other political foes in recent weeks, Harris might feel the pull to jump back into the presidential fray instead.
Her silence leaves Democrats guessing. Will she try to reclaim the White House, or is she plotting a quieter comeback? Either way, her 36% support shows she’s still got a loyal base waiting for her next move.
The Competition Lags Behind
Pete Buttigieg, once a rising star, is stuck at 10%—and he’s already ruled out a 2028 run for statewide office in Michigan, dimming his prospects. Newsom, Walz, and AOC are tied at 5%, but none have the momentum to challenge Harris yet. Walz has been making noise in battleground states like Wisconsin, trying to position himself as a Trump critic, but his 2024 stint as Harris’s running mate didn’t win over enough fans. AOC’s progressive fire excites the far-left, but her appeal might not stretch to the broader party. Meanwhile, Cuban’s 4% feels more like a celebrity footnote than a serious bid.
Other names—like Shapiro, Booker, Whitmer, and Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar (2%)—are barely blips on the radar. Even Rahm Emanuel, the former Chicago mayor and Obama insider, scraped just 1%, with 44% of voters saying they’ve never heard of him. Harris’s lead isn’t just big; it’s a canyon.
Why Harris Still Matters
Harris’s 2024 loss was a gut punch for Democrats, who poured money and hope into her campaign only to watch Trump cruise to victory. But this new poll—echoed by a Puck News/Echelon Insights survey from late 2024 that gave her 41%—shows she’s still the party’s top pick to take him on again. Democrats are hungry for a leader who can stand up to Trump, especially as he flexes his power in his second term. Harris, with her experience and name recognition, fits the bill for many.
Still, the road to 2028 is long. Her 2024 campaign exposed weaknesses—critics called her “heartless” and out of touch, and a marketing firm tied to her even laid off staff after the wipeout. If she runs again, she’ll need to prove she’s learned from her mistakes. For now, though, Kamala Harris is the Democrats’ frontrunner, whether she likes it or not. The question is: will she seize the chance—or let someone else take the spotlight?
