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Democrats’ internal poll shows Harris trailing Trump, Buttigieg ahead

By Drooid · Sep 17, 2026, 12:11 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Lindy Li says Democrats ignored internal polls showing Vice President Kamala Harris was weak against President Donald Trump.
She says the internal poll placed Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg ahead of Harris.
She says Buttigieg earned zero percent Black support in that poll.
Li says Harris ranked last among potential successors in the party’s internal assessment.
She adds party leaders feared backlash from Harris’s “K-Hive” supporters if another nominee emerged.

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Story summary

Lindy Li says Democrats ignored internal polls showing Vice President Kamala Harris was weak against President Donald Trump.
She says the internal poll placed Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg ahead of Harris.
She says Buttigieg earned zero percent Black support in that poll.
Li says Harris ranked last among potential successors in the party’s internal assessment.
She adds party leaders feared backlash from Harris’s “K-Hive” supporters if another nominee emerged.