Former Vice President Kamala Harris suffered an embarrassing political setback after a new straw poll of progressive activists revealed just how little enthusiasm some of the Democratic Party’s most engaged supporters have for another White House run.
Harris, the party’s unsuccessful 2024 presidential nominee, received a dismal 0.6% of the vote in a 2028 presidential straw poll conducted Saturday at Crooked Con, a liberal political convention in Washington, D.C.
That amounted to just six votes out of 990 cast, leaving Harris tied for 16th place with Michigan Sen. Elissa Slotkin. The stunningly poor showing came as Georgia Sen. Jon Ossoff emerged as the overwhelming favorite among attendees, capturing 38.4% of the vote.
New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez finished a distant second with 16.6%, followed by former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg at 13.9%. California Gov. Gavin Newsom, another frequently discussed presidential contender, also struggled, receiving just 2.3%.
The results delivered an awkward political reality check for Harris, who has remained a prominent name in discussions about the Democrats’ 2028 presidential nomination despite losing the White House to Donald Trump in 2024.
The gathering was organized by Crooked Media, the progressive media company founded by former Obama administration officials. Although the straw poll was informal and did not represent Democratic voters nationwide, it offered a revealing glimpse into the preferences of nearly 1,000 politically active liberals.
Ossoff’s commanding victory came just days after he defeated Republican Rep. Mike Collins in Georgia’s Senate race, winning reelection by approximately 18 percentage points. The victory immediately fueled speculation that the 39-year-old senator could become a serious presidential contender.
Political analyst Nate Silver added to the buzz during the convention, describing Ossoff as a leading prospect for the Democratic nomination and praising his ability to appeal to both the progressive and moderate wings of the party.
But there is one major complication: Ossoff insists he has no intention of running.
During an October Senate debate, the Georgia Democrat pledged to serve his full six-year term and declared that he had “zero interest in running for president.”
His positions also differ from those of some prominent progressives. Ossoff has opposed Medicare for All, the Green New Deal, abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and expanding the Supreme Court.
Despite Harris’ disastrous convention showing, broader national polling paints a considerably different picture. The RealClearPolitics average covering August 26 through November 1 still placed her first among potential 2028 Democratic contenders at 21.8%, followed by Buttigieg at 14%, Newsom at 13.5%, Ocasio-Cortez at 12.5%, and Ossoff at 10.8%.
That contrast makes the convention results particularly striking. While Harris continues to benefit from nationwide name recognition, a gathering of politically engaged Democrats overwhelmingly favored a senator who has publicly ruled out seeking the presidency.
With the 2028 race still two years away, the straw poll is far from a prediction of the eventual nominee. But for Harris, receiving just six votes at a major progressive gathering raises fresh questions about whether some of her party’s most enthusiastic supporters are already searching for someone new.
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Just because Ossoff said he would serve his full term doesn’t mean anything. One must remember it was said during a campaign. And a statement made by a Democrat that they think makes themselves look more electable means nothing beyond that. Getting elected is what matters, so statements are simply words. Remember when, Spanberger in Virginia ran on a message of being a moderate, then the first thing she did in office was very left-wing, and she hasn’t stopped being leftist since then.