2028 Democratic Primary Field Called ‘Messiest in Decades’ by CNN Polling Expert

CNN's Harry Enten calls 2028 Democratic race a 'messy' field with Harris leading narrowly among top candidates.

September 23, 2026 One Min Read

POLICY WIRE — Washington, D.C. — A new survey reveals a highly fragmented landscape for the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination, with four leading candidates within three percentage points of each other.

Former Vice President Kamala Harris holds a slim lead at 17 percent, followed closely by former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg at 16 percent. Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and California Governor Gavin Newsom each received 14 percent support from Democratic voters, according to the poll conducted by Bowling Green State University and YouGov.

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CNN’s chief data analyst, Harry Enten, described the current primary environment as “completely messy,” noting that it is the most unclear Democratic field in over two decades. He compared the situation to an airport on Thanksgiving Sunday, emphasizing the lack of a clear frontrunner. Enten also pointed out that Harris’s support has dropped sharply since July 2024, when she led with 45 percent, a significant decline from her current standing.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)

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