AOC is surprise leader in 2028 presidential poll and she’s keeping her options open on White House bid

Key Points:

• A new University of New Hampshire poll shows Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez leading in the early 2028 Democratic presidential primary in New Hampshire with 22% support, narrowly ahead of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg at 21%.
• Ocasio-Cortez expressed being "deeply humbled" by the poll results but did not confirm or rule out a 2028 presidential run, emphasizing her current focus on helping Democrats regain the House majority in the upcoming midterms.
• Other notable candidates in the poll include Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly (9%), California Gov. Gavin Newsom (8%), Sen. Bernie Sanders (6%), and former Vice President Kamala Harris (5%).
• The Democratic primary calendar has shifted, with South Carolina moving ahead of Iowa and New Hampshire as the first binding primary in 2024, reflecting efforts to prioritize states with significant Black and Hispanic voter populations.
• On the Republican side, Vice President JD Vance leads with 36% support against Secretary of State Marco Rubio's 26% in the race to succeed former President Donald Trump as the GOP nominee.