Surprise Kamala Harris detail in 2028 US presidential poll

A new poll looking ahead to the 2028 US presidential election has revealed a surprising detail about former Vice President Kamala Harris.

Former US Vice President Kamala Harris is the preferred 2028 option by a wide margin, according to a survey of Democratic voters released on Friday.

The failed 2024 presidential nominee received 36 per cent support from Democratic and Democratic-leaning independent voters in the early 2028 primary poll conducted by Morning Consult, the New York Post reports.

Ms Harris, 60, has a stunning double-digit lead over her closest potential competitor, former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who garnered just 10 per cent support from his party.

The unemployed former veep, however, has yet to announce any intention of running in 2028.

Former US Vice President Kamala Harris is the preferred 2028 Democratic nominee. Picture: Win McNamee/Getty Images/AFP

Ms Harris suffered a crushing loss to President Donald Trump in November, losing the popular vote, the Electoral College and every swing state to the Republican.

Her loss came despite raising more than a billion dollars from Democratic donors during her campaign.

Since her defeat, Ms Harris has reportedly told allies she plans to keep her political options open and she is believed to be mulling a run at the California governorship in 2026, in a bid to succeed a termed-out Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom.

US President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris ahead of the inauguration of Donald Trump as the 47th president of the United States on January 20, 2025. Picture: Melina Mara/AFP

Mr Newsom was among three possible candidates who received 5 per cent support in the Morning Consult poll, the others being far-left “Squad” Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, who was Ms Harris’ 2024 running mate.

Shark Tank star Mark Cuban and Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro — reportedly one of the finalists for Ms Harris’ veep in 2024 — both garnered a 4 per cent backing.

New Jersey Senator Cory Booker (3 per cent), Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer (2 per cent), Illinois Governor JB Pritzker (2 per cent), Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear (2 per cent) and Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar (2 per cent) were among the Democrats receiving less than middling support in the poll.

Trump 2028?

It comes as speculation is mounting that Mr Trump could capitalise on a technical loophole in the constitution in order to run for president again in 2028.

Former White House chief strategist and Mr Trump’s long-time ally Steve Bannon raised eyebrows with the proposition back in December, and then doubled down recently at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference.

“What do we have to do to get Trump 2028?” the 71-year-old asked the crowd.

“We’ve got to maybe work the Constitution … although I think there’s a way to slip through there but you never know.

“The future of MAGA is Donald J Trump. We want Trump in 2028.

“A man like Trump only comes along once or twice in a country’s history, right? We want Trump.”

But could it actually happen?

Could Trump 2028 actually happen? Picture: Michael M Santiago/Getty Images

“No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice,” the US constitution clearly states.

But the devil is in the details.

The document says no person can be elected as President for more than two terms, but it does not say that no person can serve as President for more than two terms.

When the President-elect met with congressional Republicans shortly after his November 2024 election victory, he said: “I suspect I won’t be running again unless you say, ‘He’s so good we’ve got to figure something else out’.”

Mr Trump has mastered the technique of saying outrageous things to attract attention on his way to achieving goals. If he repeats this talking point, it could very well be on the cards.

“While Trump claims he’s only joking when he floats the idea of a third term, he has a long history of using ‘jokes’ as a way of floating trial balloons,” governance expert Professor James Sherman said in December.

“Once he leaves office, Trump could once again face the prospect of criminal prosecution and possibly jail time, further motivating him to stay in power. As Trump’s second term progresses, don’t be surprised if Americans hear more about how he might try to stay in office.”

– with Alex Blair

This article originally appeared on the New York Post and has been republished with permission

Originally published as Surprise Kamala Harris detail in 2028 US presidential poll