RepresentativeAlexandria Ocasio-Cortezsurged to first place in the latest 2028 Democratic presidential primary poll by AtlasIntel, the first to show the New York progressive leading her potential rivals.
The 2028 presidential field is coming into view, with candidates potentially announcing their campaigns as early as 2027, after the midterms. On the Democratic side, prospective candidates are already testing their messages and heading to key primary states to build up their name recognition and make inroads with voters. The new poll suggests Ocasio-Cortez has sizable support among Democratic voters, though otherpollshave not so far shown her with a lead.
Newsweekreached out to leadingDemocratsin the poll for comment via email.
Early pollsare not always predictive of final outcomes, but they do have major implications for candidates. Donors and voters use polls to gauge whether a candidate is viable, so the numbers matter to a candidate's ability to fundraise and garner media attention. They also measure initial name recognition among potential candidates.
This poll is especially notable because AtlasIntel was ranked the most accurate polling company of the 2024 election by survey veteranNate Silverand was previously named the most accuratepollster of the 2020 election by 538.
The new AtlasIntel poll found Ocasio-Cortez leading among a crowded field of potential Democratic candidates, with 26 percent of respondents saying they would vote for her in the primary.
Former Secretary of TransportationPete Buttigiegfollowed with 22.4 percent, while California GovernorGavin Newsomreceived 21.2 percent of support in the poll. Former Vice PresidentKamala Harrisreceived the backing of 12.9 percent of respondents.
No other candidates received double-digit support in the poll, which surveyed 2,069 U.S. adults from May 4-7, 2025, and had a margin of error of plus or minus 2 percentage points.
The poll comes just days after Ocasio-Cortezaddressed presidential speculation in a conversation with David Axelrod, a former adviser to former President Barack Obama.
She said, in part, that she does not want to make decisions as a lawmaker, with the idea of one day becoming a senator or president weighing in the back of her mind.
Source: Drudge Report
