Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg led two polls of the potential 2028 Democratic primary field in New Hampshire, historically one of the first states to cast their votes in presidential primaries.
Newsweek reached out to Buttigieg’s Win the Era PAC for comment via email.
Why It Matters
The 2028 primary race is inching closer, and candidates are likely to begin announcing campaigns early next year after the midterms. Buttigieg, whose longshot 2020 presidential bid propelled him to national prominence, is viewed as a likely candidate. But the primary field is expected to be crowded, with other prominent Democrats like former Vice President Kamala Harris, California Governor Gavin Newsom and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York being floated as potential candidates.
The 2028 primary calendar for Democrats has been contentious, but New Hampshire could be an early state as it has been in the past. Candidates who perform well in early states tend to build momentum, helping them solidify their bases and garner media coverage and financial donations. Early polls can reveal which candidates may start the race with an advantage.
What To Know
Two polls of Granite State voters this week showed Buttigieg, who placed second in the state’s 2020 primary, with an early lead in 2028.
The latest poll came from Boston-based Emerson College, which found him leading with 19.7 percent support. Ocasio-Cortez was second with 11.8 percent, followed by Newsom at 11.6 percent. Arizona Senator Mark Kelly received 10.1 percent, while Harris placed fifth with 8.4 percent.
The poll found that nearly one-quarter of respondents—23.6 percent—were undecided about who they would vote for. It surveyed 1,000 likely voters from March 21 to 23 and had a margin of error of plus or minus 2.9 percentage points.
Earlier this week, a poll from Saint Anselm College in New Hampshire similarly showed Buttigieg with an early lead at 29 percent. Newsom followed with 15 percent, while Ocasio-Cortez polled at 10 percent. Harris placed fourth with 6 percent, followed by Illinois Governor JB Pritzker at 5 percent.
In that poll, 11 percent were still unsure of who they would vote for. It surveyed 1,491 New Hampshire voters from March 16 to 18 and had a margin of error of plus or minus 2.5 percentage points.
How Did Buttigieg Perform in 2020 New Hampshire Primary?
In 2020, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders led the New Hampshire primary with 25.7 percent, while Buttigieg came in second with 24.4 percent. Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar received 19.8 percent of the vote, while Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren received 9.2 percent.
Then-former Vice President Joe Biden, who received 8.4 percent, went on to notch large victories in other early states like South Carolina, bolstering his campaign and helping him win the Democratic primary—and later the presidency.
New Hampshire’s First-in-the-Nation Primary
The state’s first‑in‑the‑nation position is grounded in a 1975 statute requiring its primary to be held at least seven days before any similar election in another state, giving the New Hampshire secretary of state authority to adjust the date as needed to maintain that lead.
Proponents of keeping the state’s primary first argue that it is a small swing state where candidates must engage in retail politics. Critics have said it should not be first because its demographics are not representative of the nation overall.
Disputes about the primary calendar led to conflict during the 2024 election. The Democratic National Committee, backed by Biden, pushed to move South Carolina to the first slot to elevate a more racially diverse electorate. But New Hampshire’s government declined to adopt the new DNC schedule, as state leaders said the 1975 trigger law requires the state to have the first primary.
New Hampshire held its primary in January. Biden did not appear on the ballot but won with a write-in campaign. The DNC later held a party-run primary in April to allocate delegates. New Hampshire continues to push to hold an early primary in 2028.
In a memo reported by New Hampshire Public Radio, New Hampshire Democratic Party Chair Ray Buckley the state's position.
“We believe that we should go first because we are a small, purple state with unmatched civic participation. In other words, there is no other state that better meets the efficiency, rigorousness, and fairness criteria needed in our presidential nominating process,” he wrote.
New Hampshire is viewed as a blue-leaning swing state, having backed Harris by fewer than 3 percentage points in 2024.
What People Are Saying
Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, on X this month: “Our economy is bleeding jobs. Prices are up, especially for gas. Yet the White House prioritizes tax cuts for billionaires, while launching a reckless new Middle East war. It doesn't have to stay this way—not if the American people make our voices heard."
Governor Gavin Newsom, a California Democrat, discussed his 2028 plans with The Wall Street Journal last year: "I'm not thinking about running, but it's a path that I could see unfold.”
Former Vice President Kamala Harris, during an interview with author Sharon McMahon in February when asked about running in 2028: “I haven’t decided. I might.”
What Happens Next
Candidates typically begin announcing presidential campaigns after the midterms, which are in November.
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