Senator Jon Ossoff is seeing increased support in potential 2028 Democratic presidential polls. This development occurs as backing for former Vice President Kamala Harris and California Governor Gavin Newsom wanes from previous levels. No formal candidates have entered the race yet, but polls suggest movement is happening.
Ossoff claims he has “zero interest” in running, yet poll data shows growing support. He jumped from 1% in May to 7% recently, marking gains in three consecutive polling waves according to Morning Consult.
Harris leads the Democratic primary field with 24% support, followed by Newsom on 12%, and former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg at 9%. Morning Consult conducted a survey of 2,203 registered voters from August 28-30, with a margin of error of plus or minus 2 percentage points. Despite the stability at the top, the race below shows dynamic shifts with Ossoff advancing steadily.
Newsweek reached out to Ossoff’s campaign for commentary. Patrick Casale, senior adviser to Nevada GOP Chairman Michael McDonald, mentioned that Ossoff’s growth could be influenced by the Democratic Party’s socialist faction, depending on their midterm success.
Casale suggested that victories for socialist candidates might push the party to endorse Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for president. Yet if they perform poorly, this might play in Ossoff’s favor. Casale commented on Newsom’s and Harris’ performance, attributing negative associations to California.
Factors Increasing Attention Around Jon Ossoff
Ossoff’s support rise partly stems from national attention on his challenging remarks about President Donald Trump’s administration. In August, Ossoff criticized Trump’s priorities, specifically targeting Trump aide Natalie Harp.
The remarks drew a response from Trump, labeling Ossoff as a “Pee-wee Herman lookalike”. Ossoff embraced the attention, enjoying the reaction from the White House.
Comparison with Other Polls
Different polls, such as Rasmussen Reports and Emerson College, also show varying standings for potential Democratic candidates. A recent Rasmussen poll put Harris at 37% amongst Democratic voters, while Newsom received 14%. Emerson College showed Buttigieg leading, with Ossoff and Ocasio-Cortez tied in third place at 13%.
The discrepancies in poll results underscore the fluidity of the Democratic landscape.
Shifts in the Republican Field
On the Republican side, significant movement has been recorded for Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who rose to 22% support. This increase is noted as the first substantial change since March according to Morning Consult data.
Despite the gain, Vice President JD Vance remains the Republican front-runner with 36% support. However, Rubio is one of the few other Republican figures gaining double-digit backing. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. have seen less notable changes.
No candidate has officially entered the race yet, with Harris undecided, AOC ambitious to “change the world”, and Newsom relying on fate.
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