Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, seen as a leading contender for the 2028 Democratic nomination, is backed by several other Democrats and potential presidential candidates in Emerson College’s first post-election poll released Tuesday.
In a national poll of 1,000 registered voters conducted by Emerson College, the popular swing state governor, who has worked to build his national brand, received 3% of the vote. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is also polling at 3%, and both governors are four percentage points behind California Gov. Gavin Newsom and one point behind Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. Former first lady Michelle Obama – who has stated she has no aspirations for political office – and Sen. Bernie Sanders (Ind., Vt.) support Shapiro with 2%.
According to the poll, 37 percent of voters – which is the highest favorability among the mentioned candidates – want a repeat of the 2024 elections, with Vice President Kamala Harris leading in 2028. The survey was conducted on November 20-22.
Both Republican and Democratic 2028 voters took part in the survey, which asked an open-ended question prompting them to nominate their preferred candidate. Candidates who received at least two responses were included in the results. There is a lot of uncertainty in both primaries, with 35% of Democratic voters and 51% of Republican voters undecided, according to the poll. Vice President-elect Sen. J.D. Vance is polling at 30% among the listed GOP primary candidates.
Shapiro – who has long been rumored to have higher political aspirations – is extremely popular in Pennsylvania but is still building his national profile, perhaps suggesting why he is currently ahead of other Democrats. Shapiro’s national popularity rose especially after he was passed over as Harris’ running mate for Minnesota gubernatorial running mate Tim Walz, which some experts say contributed to Harris losing the key battleground of Pennsylvania and the presidency.
Shapiro, 51, a Montgomery County native, often boasts about his ability to work with a divided Legislature in Harrisburg and describes himself as a moderate who can reach out to all sides of the issue. That energy gave him a chance to disrupt Democrats on the ballot, deliver a prime-time speech at the Democratic National Convention and raise $9 million by October of this year, even if he doesn’t run for re-election.
Shapiro is up for re-election as governor in 2026, which could determine his future in presidential politics and whether he has a chance to move to the front of a potentially crowded 2028 Democratic primary field.
Donald Trump’s favorability increases after winning Pennsylvania and the presidency
President-elect Donald Trump’s favorability ratings have increased by six points since the election, according to an Emerson College poll.
After winning Pennsylvania and the presidency, and triggering a red wave across the commonwealth, Trump’s favorability rating now stands at 54%. However, the survey shows that voters are not divided in their approval of the potential choice of cabinet.
“Trump’s favorability varies significantly by gender, race and age,” said Spencer Kimball, executive director of Emerson College Polling. “Men view Trump most favorably, 61% compared to 48% of women. White voters view Trump favorably (59%), Latinos 53%, and Black voters 28%.
Kimball said the president-elect’s favorability is strongest among voters in their 40s and 50s, while noting that Trump has also gained traction among younger voters.
On the other hand, President Joe Biden fell to his lowest approval rating ever in the Emerson poll (36%).
