Jon Ossoff Surges in Early 2028 Democratic Primary Polls

Morning Consult surveyed 2,203 registered voters from August 28-30 and found former Georgia senator Jon Ossoff at 7 percent support, more than double his share in the previous wave. The same poll placed former Vice President Kamala Harris at 24 percent, California Governor Gavin Newsom at 12 percent, and former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg at 9 percent. No candidate has formally entered the 2028 presidential race, and Ossoff has publicly said he has “zero interest” in running.

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Historically, candidates announce presidential bids after the 2024 midterms, though early speculation is not unprecedented. Harris has consistently led in multiple surveys, while Newsom’s numbers have slipped from a June high of 19 percent to his current low. Rasmussen Reports, conducted July 15-21 among 472 respondents, showed Harris at 37 percent, Newsom at 14 percent, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez at 9 percent. An Emerson College poll from July 19-20 (574 respondents) presented a different ordering: Buttigieg led with 19 percent, Newsom followed at 17 percent, and both Ossoff and Ocasio-Cortez at 13 percent each.

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• Morning Consult (Aug 28-30): Ossoff 7 %, Harris 24 %, Newsom 12 %, Buttigieg 9 %

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• Rasmussen (Jul 15-21): Harris 37 %, Newsom 14 %, Ocasio-Cortez 9 %, Buttigieg 8 %

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• Emerson College (Jul 19-20): Buttigieg 19 %, Newsom 17 %, Ossoff 13 %, Ocasio-Cortez 13 %

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• Republican field (Morning Consult): Vice President JD Vance 36 % (front-runner), Marco Rubio 22 % (first double-digit movement since March).

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• Jon Ossoff reiterated his “zero interest” in a 2028 presidential run.

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• Kamala Harris indicated she is “thinking” about a possible campaign.

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• Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said her goal is to make a broad impact.

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• Gavin Newsom left his potential candidacy to “fate.”

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• “That’s where Ossoff’s numbers are going to work.” — Patrick Casale, senior adviser to Nevada GOP Chairman Michael McDonald

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• “California is totally destroyed. He’s [Newsom has] destroyed paradise. He’s ruined paradise. And where’s Harris from? Oh, that would be California,” — Patrick Casale, senior adviser to Nevada GOP Chairman Michael McDonald

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• “He doesn’t want to do the job,” — Jon Ossoff, senator

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