With the 2028 election still over 1,300 days away, the Democratic field is already beginning to take shape — and not in a way that inspires much confidence in a party still reeling from a string of recent electoral missteps. A new Echelon Insights poll shows Vice President Kamala Harris still in the lead with 28% support. The real story isn’t about who’s ahead — it’s about how little the party seems to have learned from past cycles.
Senator Cory Booker’s unexpected second-place showing at 11%, following his record-breaking 25-hour Senate speech earlier this month, signals that Democrats are still chasing rhetorical flourishes over concrete results. While Booker’s filibuster earned headlines and admiration among base voters, it also underscores a persistent trend in Democratic politics: favoring symbolic gestures over building a coalition that can win in purple states.
Kamala Harris, the current frontrunner, is a two-time presidential hopeful — and a two-time nonstarter. Her 2020 campaign fizzled out before the primaries even began, and her approval ratings during her vice presidency struggled to crack 40%. Yet, she remains the default option despite a lack of overwhelming support or any concrete accomplishments.
Gavin Newsom, once touted as a possible heir to Biden’s political legacy, has stagnated at 5% — and his record as California governor may be too polarizing nationally. Meanwhile, names like Jon Stewart and Stephen A. Smith appear on the list more as cultural curiosities than viable contenders. That Smith, with his massive TV platform and high-profile media appearances, only managed to hit 1% suggests the novelty factor isn’t translating into serious consideration, despite his signaled openness to the idea of running.
Even rising progressive stars like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez are holding steady at single digits — strong on Twitter, perhaps, but far from presidential viability in a general election.
What’s more troubling is that this lineup — mostly recycled personalities and former candidates who failed to catch fire — seems to indicate a party more focused on visibility than strategic reinvention. In the post-Biden era, many Democrats expected a more serious recalibration. Instead, the top names in the polls are familiar figures who’ve already had their shot and failed to galvanize a broader coalition.
If this early poll is any indication, Democrats may be heading into 2028 with the same blind spots that cost them dearly in recent cycles. Unless the party starts to prioritize electability, policy credibility, and coalition-building over familiar faces and performative politics, the path back to the White House could be far steeper than they expect.
And while Democrats tread water with a slate of uninspiring, déjà vu-inducing candidates, Republicans may be preparing to field a much more formidable challenger in 2028. J.D. Vance, now serving as vice president and already carving out a prominent national profile, is quickly becoming a rising star on the right. With his populist messaging and growing influence in conservative circles, Vance is positioning himself as a likely heir to the MAGA mantle. Rumors of his 2028 ambitions are already swirling, and even with nearly three years until the primaries, the GOP seems to be laying the groundwork for a dynamic post-Trump succession plan. For Democrats, this raises the stakes considerably. The assumption that there’s plenty of time to settle on a candidate could prove dangerously naïve. If they fail to cultivate fresh, compelling leadership, they may find themselves outpaced by a Republican Party that is increasingly effective at rallying its base and defining the terms of the national conversation.
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The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of American Liberty News.
Not surprisingly the truth is the dimwit nitwit party is going down the toilet and IS responsible for all the hate and discontent popping up in the USA. They are a minority but right now are doing a lot of damage. When you have elected officials calling for violence, murders, etc. then all the nuts around are incited. Yup! It is hate speech and why are these inciters allowed to continue?
At least sue them for their obvious inciting for criminal behavior that is calling for murder, assassinations, etc.. When their accumlated theft of taxpayer money is drained, and they are outted for their criminal calls to action, maybe if they cannot pay the criminals to act and are facing criminal charges, their violence calls will wither away? Who knows? But enough is enough. Maybe add charges as in felonies to the suits because of their public threats? Real public threats like big mouth Max’s latest! Or Schmucki’s? Both were for assassinations in some form if memory serves?