YIKES: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Tops JD Vance in 2028 Presidential Poll

Speculation about the 2028 presidential race is already taking shape, even though no candidate has formally entered the contest and announcements are not expected until after the 2026 midterm elections. At this stage, Gov. Gavin Newsom is widely viewed as a likely contender for the Democrat nomination, while Vice President JD Vance is seen as a strong favorite to pursue the Republican slot and, if he does, to face little resistance within his party.

On the Democratic side, however, the picture is far less settled. John Nolte points out at Breitbart that reports indicate 2024 loser Kamala Harris is considering another run in 2028, and polling suggests she would be a formidable presence in a crowded primary. One recent survey showed Harris leading the Democrat field with 31 percent support, followed by Newsom at 20 percent and former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg at ten percent. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro placed fourth with 6.4 percent, narrowly ahead of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who registered 6.3 percent.

A separate poll painted a more encouraging picture for Ocasio-Cortez. In that survey, she climbed to third place with 16 percent support, trailing Newsom, who led with 25 percent, and Harris, who followed at 18 percent. Buttigieg was close behind in fourth place at 14 percent. That same poll showed Ocasio-Cortez leading among voters under the age of 34, capturing 32 percent of that demographic.

While the Democratic primary remains uncertain, a hypothetical general election matchup between Ocasio-Cortez and Vance has also been tested. In that scenario, the New York Democrat holds a narrow national edge, defeating Vance by two points, 51 percent to 49 percent.

“The New York Democratic congresswoman, known as AOC, edges the likely Republican nominee 51 percent to 49 percent, in The Argument/Verasight survey released on Tuesday,” reports the far-left Newsweek. “However, the result was within the poll’s 2.7 percentage point margin of error, making the two candidates statistically tied. The poll asked voters who they would vote for if the election was between the two of them.”

John Nolte reports for Breitbart that the survey reveals sharp demographic divides. According to the data, Vance dominates among white voters, leading 57 percent to 43 percent, while Ocasio-Cortez draws overwhelming support from minority voters, winning 79 percent of black voters and 64 percent of Hispanics. The gender gap is also pronounced, with men favoring Vance at 54 percent and women backing Ocasio-Cortez at 56 percent.

The poll, conducted among 1,521 registered voters between December 5 and 11, also produced a surprising crossover result, finding that eight percent of Trump voters said they would switch their support to Ocasio-Cortez in such a matchup.

For now, the numbers underscore both Ocasio-Cortez’s potential appeal in a general election and the intense competition she would face within her own party. Unlike Vance, who would likely consolidate Republican support quickly, the Democrat field appears poised for a bruising and unpredictable primary battle if multiple high-profile contenders enter the race.