Former Vice President Kamala Harris has overtaken California Governor Gavin Newsom in the race for the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination [1].
The shift in momentum suggests a changing internal dynamic within the Democratic Party as it attempts to redefine its platform and identity following its defeat in the 2024 election [1, 2].
According to reports from Sky News Australia and MSN, Harris currently holds the "upper hand" against Newsom [2, 3]. This lead is supported by poll data showing that Harris is beating Newsom by double digits [4]. The poll that established this trend was conducted in early July 2026 [4].
Analysts suggest the current polling numbers reflect a broader struggle within the party. Kinsey Schofield of Sky News Australia said, "I don’t think this says as much about Kamala Harris as it does about the Democratic Party still searching for a clear identity after 2024" [1].
While the Democratic field remains open, the data indicates that Harris has successfully established an early lead over other high-profile contenders. The reports highlight that Harris leads the Democratic field while J.D. Vance dominates the Republican side in the same polling cycle [4].
Newsom, the governor of California, remains a significant figure in the party, but current data suggests he has not yet captured the same level of national Democratic support as Harris [2, 3]. The race for 2028 continues to be shaped by the fallout of the previous election cycle and the party's effort to find a cohesive message for U.S. voters [1, 2].
“Harris is beating Newsom by double digits in a 2028 poll”
The early lead for Harris indicates that the Democratic Party may be gravitating toward a known national figure to maintain stability. However, the reliance on polling from 2026 suggests that the party's current trajectory is still heavily influenced by the immediate aftermath of the 2024 loss rather than new policy developments in 2026.
