Who best reflects values of Democratic Party? It’s not Kamala Harris, poll says (2025)

Many Democratic-leaning voters believe that Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez best embodies the ethos of the Democratic Party — more so than other leading figures, according to new polling.

In the latest Quantus Insights poll, 19% of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents said Ocasio-Cortez, a fourth-term congresswoman from New York, “best reflects the core values” of the party.

A slightly smaller share, 17%, said former Vice President Kamala Harris — who lost to President Donald Trump in the 2024 election — best represents the party’s values.

She was followed by New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker (12%), Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders (10%), and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (9%).

Seven percent said former President Barack Obama best represents the party’s values, and 4% said the same for California Gov. Gavin Newsom. Just 2% selected former President Joe Biden — and 20% said they don’t know or they would choose someone else.

The results indicate that Ocasio-Cortez is not “a fringe figure,” but “a contender,” the polling organization wrote on X.

The poll — which sampled 1,000 registered voters April 21-23 — also asked Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents — of whom there were 700 — about the direction of the party and who they would support in 2028.

Direction of the party

These 700 respondents were asked to describe the existing direction of the Democratic Party “in terms of its political and ideological stance.”

A plurality, 46%, said it is “about right/balanced,” while 32% said it is “too progressive/too far left.” The smallest share, 22%, said the party is “not progressive enough/too moderate.”

Respondents were evenly split about the future of the party, according to the poll, which has a margin of error of 3.1 percentage points.

Fifty percent said that it should move toward the center, and 50% said that it should stay where it is or move to the left.

Additionally, a plurality, 49%, said the party should respond to Trump’s agenda and actions by resisting or opposing. Meanwhile, 41% said it should work with the president, and 10% said they weren’t sure or had no opinion.

2028

Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents were also asked who they would support if the 2028 Democratic primary were to take place today.

Here, Harris had a much better showing, with a plurality of respondents, 30%, selecting her.

Ocasio-Cortez came in second, garnering 14% support.

Following her were former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg (13%), Booker (13%), Newsom (7%) and Sanders (6%).

Two governors came in last: Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (5%) and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (5%).

Quantus Insights indicated the results should be taken with a grain of salt, though, as “they are heavily influenced by name recognition at this stage, as formal campaigns are years away.”