Kamala Harris Tanks in Progressive 2028 Straw Poll at Crooked Con, Finishing 16th With 0.6%

Former Vice President Kamala Harris received just 0.6% support (six votes out of 990 cast) in an informal 2028 Democratic presidential straw poll at Crooked Con, a progressive convention hosted by Crooked Media in Washington, D.C., this past weekend. She tied for 16th place with Michigan Sen. Elissa Slotkin.

Georgia Sen. Jon Ossoff dominated the non-scientific survey with 38.4% of the vote, followed by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez at 16.6% and former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg at 13.9%. Other notable results included Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro each at around 4%, with Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly and Maryland Gov. Wes Moore at 3% and California Gov. Gavin Newsom at 2.3%.

The poll reflects preferences among roughly 1,000 attendees at the event organized by the liberal media company founded by Obama administration alumni. While not representative of broader Democratic voter sentiment, it highlights a sharp disconnect: Harris continues to lead the RealClearPolitics average of national 2028 primary polls at 21.8%, ahead of Newsom at 13.5% and Ossoff at 10.8%. Prediction markets like Polymarket show Ossoff rising, with traders giving him around a 26% chance of the nomination compared to Harris at about 6%.

Ossoff, who won reelection decisively on November 4, has repeatedly stated he has "zero interest" in a presidential run and intends to serve his full Senate term. The activist preference for the moderate-leaning senator, who has opposed Medicare for All and the Green New Deal, signals potential shifts in the early Democratic field as the party processes its 2024 defeat.