US presidential elections 2028: Who are the frontrunners in GOP and Democratic Party? Surprise names emerge

The race for the White House in 2028 is still far from beginning, but two recent surveys are already offering different pictures of the possible candidates. One puts Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff and Republican Marco Rubio at the front of their parties' hypothetical fields. Another gives former Vice President Kamala Harris and current Vice President JD Vance the advantage.

The mixed results demonstrate how unsettled the next presidential contest remains. No candidate has officially announced a 2028 campaign and several prominent politicians have not yet ruled out a run.

Which Democrats are gaining attention for 2028

An AtlasIntel survey carried out from October 28 to November 1 found Ossoff ahead of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez with a margin of less than one percentage point. Pete Buttigieg came in third; Harris received 12.6 percent support. California Governor Gavin Newsom trailed with nine percent.

The results look different in a late-October Harvard/HarrisX poll, which placed Harris 14 points ahead of Newsom. The difference between the surveys highlights how much early polling can depend on the candidates included and the people questioned. The information is taken from USA TODAY and NewsNation.

Other Democrats being discussed include

• Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear
• Senator Cory Booker
• former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel
• Representative Ro Khanna
• Arizona Senator Mark Kelly
• Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer
• Senator Ruben Gallego
• Senator Chris Van Hollen
• Representative Elissa Slotkin
• Former New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu.

Kelly's political profile has also drawn attention. Federal Election Commission filings show that his principal congressional campaign account holds more than $22 million.

Some potential candidates have already addressed the possibility. Harris told Rev. Al Sharpton, "I might. I am thinking about it." Ossoff, meanwhile, has said he does not plan to run in 2028.

Khanna has called for a major change in the Democratic Party's approach, saying, "If we don’t do something dramatically different, we may break." He added that younger people want a new social contract and are increasingly frustrated with the political establishment.

Rubio or Vance: Who leads the Republican field

The AtlasIntel survey puts Rubio 13 percentage points ahead of Vance. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, commentator Tucker Carlson and Donald Trump Jr. each received less than 5%.

Harvard/HarrisX produced a different result, giving Vance a 19-point advantage over Rubio and Trump Jr.

Other Republicans whose names have surfaced include

• Texas Governor Greg Abbott,
• Senator Ted Cruz,
• former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie,
• Sen. Rand Paul,
• former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo,
• Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard,
• Sen. Tom Cotton,
• Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp,
• Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders
• Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin.

Several have left the door open. DeSantis said, "You never know." Gabbard said she would never rule out an opportunity to serve her country, while Paul described his chances as "50-50."

Why are the two polls producing different pictures?

The AtlasIntel survey included 3,566 respondents and had a margin of error of two percentage points. Its results were released on November 1. The Harvard/HarrisX findings, published in late October, offer a contrasting snapshot rather than a definitive prediction. Neither survey establishes who will eventually become a nominee.

Democratic strategist Doug Sosnik told Reuters that different groups within his party could interpret the political landscape in their own way.

"All kinds of wings of the Democratic Party can find affirmation in the results last night," Sosnik said. "I don't think that anyone can, nor should they, try to contain the differences we have as a party." For now, the two polls offer competing early snapshots of a race that has not officially begun.