AOC, Donald Trump Jr. Make Gains in New 2028 Poll - Newsweek

Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Donald Trump Jr. gained ground among voters considering potential 2028 presidential contenders in a new Harvard CAPS/Harris poll, while the leaders of the hypothetical Democratic and Republican fields saw their support slip.

The shifts offer an early look at a 2028 race that is still taking shape, with none of the potential contenders tested in the poll having formally announced a campaign.

Among Democrats, former Vice President Kamala Harris remains the leading choice at 38 percent, down 4 percentage points from August. California Governor Gavin Newsom followed at 17 percent, while Ocasio-Cortez climbed 3 points to 12 percent.

Ocasio-Cortez has not yet decided whether she will run for president in 2028, saying she plans to weigh the decision after the midterm elections.

In an interview with The New York Times published last week, Ocasio-Cortez discussed the challenges of a potential presidential campaign.

“This country has never elected a female president. Why are we pretending that this is not a factor?” Ocasio-Cortez told the Times. “That doesn’t make it impossible, but to act as though it’s not a factor in anything ever is really a form of, like, denialism.”

On the Republican side, Vice President JD Vance remained in first place at 39 percent in the poll, down 3 points from August. Trump Jr. jumped 6 points to 24 percent, followed by Marco Rubio at 17 percent.

Trump Jr. has previously left open the possibility of a presidential run, but has also said he is not currently interested in running in 2028.

”I've always said, while I'll never 100% rule it out down the line, I have ZERO interest in running for office in 28 or anytime soon,” Trump Jr. wrote on X in May 2025.

The Harvard CAPS/Harris poll was conducted online from September 26 to 28, 2026, among 2,200 registered voters. The survey has a margin of error of approximately plus or minus 2.1 percentage points.

Newsweek reached out to representatives for both Ocasio-Cortez and Trump Jr. via email late Tuesday.

More immediately, with just 35 days until the November election, the poll also found that 42 percent of voters have not firmly settled on their midterm choice.

Twenty-six percent of those surveyed said they are leaning toward certain candidates but could still change their minds, while another 16 percent said they have not yet decided. Fifty percent said they have definitely made up their minds, according to the survey.

On the economy, voters were closely divided when asked whether the economy is better or worse than it was when Joe Biden was president. Fifty-three percent said the economy today is worse, compared with 47 percent who said it is better. Among independent voters, 61 percent said the economy is worse today than it was under Biden, while 39 percent said it is better.

The economy and inflation continue to top voters' concerns, with 45 percent saying inflation is the issue most important to them personally. Artificial intelligence also emerged as a notable issue, with 15 percent citing it as a top concern.

Trump has continued to defend his economic record in recent days, saying the country has the “best economy we've ever had.”

“We have the best employment numbers that came out in the history of our country. More people working today than at any time ever before,” Trump told reporters while departing the White House Sunday.

He also reiterated that gas prices will fall once the Iran war ends, which he said will happen “soon.” The Trump administration is also considering a ban on U.S. diesel exports.

Nationwide, drivers are paying an average $4.46 for a regular gallon of gas, and $6.44 for diesel, according to AAA.

“With oil holding below $100 per barrel, many Americans may see modest declines ahead for gasoline and slight drops for diesel, but the West Coast faces continued pressure with further increases possible,” Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, said in a statement. “The broader geopolitical situation remains fluid and could push prices in either direction with little warning, and with Trump still weighing a diesel export ban, impacts could follow.”

Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Edward T. Cummins