AOC is leading, by a point, in latest 2028 N.H. presidential primary poll

US Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has jumped ahead, albeit slightly, in early polling of potential Democratic candidates in New Hampshire's 2028 presidential primary. According to a poll published Wednesday by the University of New Hampshire, the New York progressive is favored by 22 percent of likely Democratic primary voters. She's followed closely by former Transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg, who was backed by 21 percent of respondents. Next in line were Arizona Senator Mark Kelly with 9 percent, California governor Gavin Newsom with 8 percent, and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders at 6 percent. Former vice president Kamala Harris, who lost to President Trump in 2024, was backed by 5 percent of likely voters. Wednesday's poll numbers mark the first time Ocasio-Cortez has pulled ahead in the admittedly extremely early days of the presidential parlor game; she trailed Buttigieg in similar polls from UNH published in February and last October. Ocasio-Cortez, who hasn't said much about running for the Democratic ticket, has spent the last several months campaigning alongside fellow progressives ahead of the November midterms. On the sidelines of an event Sunday for Michigan Senate Democratic candidate Abdul El-Sayed, she told Politico when asked about running for president, 'I can't say that I've ruled it out.'