Although the 2028 presidential campaign has not officially begun, early frontrunners are already emerging in both major political parties. A new Harvard CAPS/HarrisX poll released on Sept. 2 reveals a potential matchup between current and former vice presidents, with former Vice President Kamala Harris and current Vice President JD Vance leading their respective fields.
Among Democrats, Harris holds a comfortable lead with 42% support. California Gov. Gavin Newsom follows in second place at 18%, while former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez are tied at 9% each.
On the Republican side, Vance maintains a similar commanding lead with 44% support. Secretary of State Marco Rubio follows with 21%, while Donald Trump Jr., the son of President Donald Trump, occupies third place with 18% support.
The survey, which polled 2,100 registered voters from Aug. 28-30, carries a margin of error of 2.1 percentage points.
The release of the poll came just one day before Vance was questioned during a White House media briefing about whether he would support Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, or Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth for the presidency in 2028. Vance responded, "Clearly Ted is a very authentic and likable guy, and I'm sure he'll do great."
Cruz, who finished second to Donald Trump in the 2016 Republican presidential primaries, has recently fueled speculation about a potential second run. During an appearance on Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick's podcast, Cruz remarked, "It's no secret that I want to be president."
Regarding Vance's own prospects, his wife, Usha Vance, recently spoke on Fox News' "Fox and Friends," stating that she is keeping an "open mind and open heart" to whatever her husband decides to do ahead of the 2028 primaries.
Meanwhile, on the Democratic side, Buttigieg has also dropped hints about his future. Speaking on Steven Bartlett's "The Diary of a CEO" podcast in August, the former Transportation Secretary stated he is "more inclined than not" to mount another presidential campaign. However, Buttigieg noted that his ultimate choice will depend on factors that will not become clear for some time.
As for President Donald Trump, he has not yet endorsed any successor for the 2028 race. However, he has previously praised both Vance and Rubio. During a White House event in May, Trump described the duo as a potential "perfect ticket." Trump commented at the time, "I do believe that's a dream team, but these are minor details. That does not mean you have my endorsement under any circumstances. I think it sounds like a presidential candidate and vice presidential candidate."
