Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear is experiencing a notable increase in popularity as a potential Democratic presidential candidate, according to a recent poll by Emerson College. The poll, released on Thursday, indicates that Beshear is now the first choice for 8.5% of Democrats nationwide, marking his highest level of support in Emerson’s early polling for the 2028 presidential race. This places him in sixth position among potential Democratic candidates.

Democratic Field Overview

Leading the Democratic field is former Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, who has the support of 17.9% of Democrats. California Governor Gavin Newsom follows with 15.9%, and New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez holds third place with 11.1%. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and former Vice President Kamala Harris are nearly tied for fourth, each with around 10% support.

Beshear’s rise is significant, considering that just three months ago, he was polling at 5.1%, and last August, he was at only 2%. Despite his growing popularity, Beshear has not yet committed to running for president, stating that he will decide after his gubernatorial term ends in 2027.

Republican Polling Landscape

On the Republican side, Vice President JD Vance is facing increased competition. Vance currently leads with 35.5% support among Republican voters, but Secretary of State Marco Rubio is close behind with 34.6%, his highest level of support in Emerson’s polling over the past year. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley are tied for a distant third, each with about 5% support.

These developments in both parties highlight the dynamic nature of the early stages of the 2028 presidential race, with candidates from both sides of the aisle working to solidify their positions and appeal to voters nationwide.

Original reporting: WLWT Cincinnati — read the source article.