AOC, Rubio lead in latest 2028 presidential primary poll

Who will become the next president of the United States? Well, a new poll may shed some light on who'll be running come 2028.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-New York, has surged to the top of the latest 2028 Democratic presidential primary poll, the first time the progressive has led the field. According to the most recent poll by AtlasIntel, 26% of Democratic voters said they would back Ocasio-Cortez’s presidential bid, with former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and California Gov. Gavin Newsom coming in second and third, respectively.

On the Republican side, Secretary of State Marco Rubio leads the field of potential candidates with 45.4% of primary voters. Behind him in a distant second and third are Vice President JD Vance and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

As of now, President Donald Trump has refused to choose between Rubio and Vance to succeed him in 2028. During a White House event on May 11, Trump said the pair would make a “perfect ticket” for a run in the next presidential elections.

"I do believe that's a dream team, but these are minor details. That does not mean you have my endorsement under any circumstances," Trump said. "I think it sounds like presidential candidate and vice presidential candidate."

Is AOC running for president?

Although she leads the potential Democratic field in 2028, Ocasio-Cortez hasn’t made clear whether she is planning a run for the presidency.

Earlier this month she sat down for an interview with Democratic strategist David Axelrod, who asked her flat-out if she was considering a presidential or Senate run. 

"They assume that my ambition is a title or a seat," Ocasio-Cortez said. "And my ambition is way bigger than that. My ambition is to change this country."

The crowd erupted in cheers after her response.

"Presidents come and go. Senate, House seats, elected officials come and go," she said. "But single-payer health care is forever, a living wage is forever, workers' rights are forever, women's rights, all of that."

Ocasio-Cortez’s office did not immediately respond to USA TODAY’s request for comment on May 12.

Amethyst Martinez from the USA TODAY Network contributed to this report.

Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at [email protected] and follow him on X @fern_cerv_.