A new New York Times/Siena College poll conducted Oct. 12-19, 2026 reveals stark differences in the 2028 presidential preferences of Republican and Democratic primary voters.
Republicans largely want to follow President Trump's lead, with JD Vance and Marco Rubio emerging as top choices for the GOP nomination. While a meaningful slice of Republicans would prefer to change direction from Mr. Trump, the party remains far more united than Democrats. Older voters show stronger support for continuing the Trump path than younger Republicans.
Democrats, however, remain divided. The party's voters have no clear consensus on a 2028 nominee, with names like Kamala Harris, Gavin Newsom, Pete Buttigieg, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Jon Ossoff, and Mark Kelly all mentioned. Many Democratic voters express uncertainty, with a significant share responding "don't know."
Both parties are approaching a critical midterm election that could serve as an inflection point. Democrats hope a backlash to Mr. Trump's policies will boost their chances in traditionally Republican strongholds, while Republicans are betting on Mr. Trump's ability to energize the base. The poll underscores Mr. Trump's enduring influence, with 8 percent of Republicans naming him as their preferred nominee despite his constitutional ineligibility.
Source: New York Times Top Stories · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing