Democratic voters lack clear 2028 presidential preference

A New York Times–Siena survey indicates that the Democratic Party lacks a definitive frontrunner for the 2028 presidential election. According to the poll, 45% of Democratic primary voters stated they do not yet have a preferred nominee.

The share of undecided voters exceeds the combined support of the four leading candidates, who collectively account for 34% of the preference. Among those who named a candidate, Vice President Kamala Harris led with 12%, followed by California Governor Gavin Newsom at 9%, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg at 7%, and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez at 6%.

Representative Jake Auchincloss of Massachusetts noted that while voters may understand what the party stands against, there is less clarity on who they are for. The survey, conducted from October 12–19, 2026, reflects early name recall and soft leanings more than firm electoral commitments.