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Georgia Senator Jon Ossoff has emerged as the leading potential Democratic presidential candidate for 2028 in a new progressive straw poll, while former vice-president Kamala Harris received just 0.6 per cent support.
The informal poll was conducted on Sunday (November 8) at Crooked Con’s progressive conference, organised by Crooked Media, founded by former Obama administration officials. Nearly 1,000 participants took part.
Ossoff topped the poll with 38 per cent support, followed by Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez with 17 per cent and former transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg with 14 per cent.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear and Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro each received 4 per cent. Arizona Senator Mark Kelly and Maryland Governor Wes Moore secured 3 per cent each, while California Governor Gavin Newsom received 2.3 per cent.
Harris ranked 16th with just 0.6 per cent, sharing the position with Michigan Senator Elissa Slotkin. However, according to RealClearPolitics’ latest aggregate of national polls, Harris continued to lead with 21.8 per cent support.
Ossoff’s growing profile follows his recent victory over Republican candidate Mike Collins in Georgia, a traditionally conservative state. His speeches and electoral performance have fuelled discussions about his potential presidential ambitions.
However, Ossoff said during his Senate campaign that he had no intention of running for president in 2028 and wanted to serve his full Senate term.
He has also differed with some progressive positions, opposing proposals such as Medicare for All, the Green New Deal, abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and expanding the Supreme Court.
Although the straw poll is not a scientific survey, analysts say it offers an indication of the political mood among highly engaged progressive Democratic activists.