Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Tops Field Among Young Democrats in New Poll

A recent Yale Youth Poll highlights Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez as a strong favorite among young Democratic voters, signaling potential generational divides within the party ahead of the 2028 presidential election.

The poll shows that Ms. Ocasio-Cortez leads significantly over other prominent figures like former Vice President Kamala Harris and California Governor Gavin Newsom among Democrats under 35 years old. Among voters aged 18 to 22, she garnered 30% support, followed by Harris at 20%, and Newsom at 12%. Her lead widened in older young demographics as well.

This trend extends across several age groups: Ocasio-Cortez secured 35% from the 23-29 year olds and maintained a solid position among 30 to 34-year-olds. While her support weakened considerably with middle-aged voters, who favored Harris and Newsom over candidates like Governor Josh Shapiro or Pete Buttigieg.

The findings come amidst an uncertain period for Democrats searching for a candidate to secure the presidential nomination in 2028. With no official campaigns announced yet, several figures have indicated their consideration includes White House ambitions. Newsom has acknowledged that he “would be lying” if suggesting he hasn’t thought about it, while Harris herself declared she’s “not finished” and remains possible for another run.