Ocasio-Cortez leading potential 2028 Democratic presidential nominees in New Hampshire survey

Campaign Ocasio-Cortez leading potential 2028 Democratic presidential nominees in New Hampshire survey Comments: by Tara Suter - 07/23/26 10:54 AM ET Comments: Link copied by Tara Suter - 07/23/26 10:54 AM ET Comments: Link copied

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Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) is leading a field of possible candidates for the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination in New Hampshire, according to a new poll.

In the Granite State Poll from the University of New Hampshire, Ocasio-Cortez garnered 22 percent backing from respondents, with former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg behind her at 21 percent and Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) trailing at 9 percent.

Last October, Buttigieg led the field with 19 percent support, followed by California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) at 15 percent and Ocasio-Cortez at 14 percent. A few months later in February, Buttigieg maintained his lead with 20 percent and Newsom and Ocasio-Cortez tied at 15 percent.

The rise of Ocasio-Cortez, a democratic socialist, in New Hampshire comes alongside progressives stepping into the national political spotlight in the last year with insurgent campaigns against more establishment figures. One of those campaigns was run by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D), who has now become one of the most prominent and widely discussed members of the Democratic Party.

There have also been calls for Ocasio-Cortez to challenge Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) for his seat two years from now, following democratic socialist candidates winning victories in Democratic primaries in late June.

In December, Ocasio-Cortez highlighted a poll showing her beating Vice President Vance in a hypothetical presidential match-up.

The Granite State Poll, from the University of New Hampshire Survey Center, took place from July 15 and 20, featuring 648 likely 2028 Democratic presidential primary voters and a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3.8 percentage points.