Pete Buttigieg leads Democratic pack in early 2028 New Hampshire poll

Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg is the Democratic Party’s early presidential frontrunner in New Hampshire, topping California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and former Vice President Kamala Harris in a new poll. 

With 19% support, Buttigieg leads Newsom – his closest opponent – by 4 percentage points, according to the University of New Hampshire’s Granite State Poll, released Monday. 

The only other Democrats in double-digits were Ocasio-Cortez (14%) and Harris (11%). 

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) received 8% support and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker garnered a 6% backing. 

New Hampshire traditionally is the first state to hold both Democratic and Republican presidential primary contests. 

The Democratic National Committee has sought to strip New Hampshire of its first-state status over concerns its population is not diverse enough, but the Granite State is bound by state law to host the opening presidential primary contests. 

The survey of 596 voters who planned to vote in New Hampshire’s 2028 Democratic presidential primary found Buttigieg with a double-digit lead over all other Dems in terms of net-favorability. 

Voters gave Buttigieg a +75% favorability rating. In other words 81% have a favorable opinion of the ex-Biden administration official, whereas only 6% have an unfavorable opinion of him. 

Since leaving office, the former Transportation Secretary has faced criticism for spending $80 billion on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) grants, while allegedly delaying air traffic control upgrades. 

Under Buttigieg, the Department of Transportation also brushed aside safety concerns to approve dozens of windmill projects near highways and railroads — despite acknowledging potential hazards, The Post reported in July. 

Sanders had the second-highest net-favorability rating, at +59%, followed by Ocasio-Cortez (+56%), Newsom (+47) and New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker (+45%). 

Harris, who hinted at mounting another run for the White House in an interview with the BBC over the weekend, pulled in just a +38% net-favorability rating. 

On the Republican side, Vice President JD Vance holds a massive lead, according to the poll. 

Vance received 51% support from 688 likely voters surveyed, topping former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley (9%), Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard (8%) and Secretary of State Marco Rubio (5%). 

The vice president’s net-favorability rating is also best among the pack, at +64%, followed by Rubio (+46%), Gabbard (+46%), and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (+40%), who pulled in only 3% support for the GOP nomination.