Cory Booker Surges to Second Place in 2028 Dem Primary Poll While Stephen A. Smith Gets Tripled By Another Celeb

Senate Television via AP

Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) seems to be enjoying a surge in popularity among Democratic voters since his record-setting Senate floor speech at the beginning of this month — a new poll has him jumping to second place for the 2028 presidential primary. On the flip side, Democrats are less enchanted with ESPN First Take host Stephen A. Smith’s aspirations for the White House, with this poll barely registering any support for him at all.

Booker’s 25 hour, 5 minute Senate floor speech put him in the record books, and in a growing number of Democratic hearts, hopeful to find a candidate who can win the presidency in 2028.

A new poll conducted from April 10 through 14 by Echelon Insights from a total sample size of 1,014 voters matched to voter file data with 449 Democrats/lean Democrats included, showed a notable shift from Echelon’s March survey.

Vice President Kamala Harris still topped the poll at 28%, but she had fallen 5 points since March. Booker was second at 11%, increasing his share of supporters 450% or 9 points from his 2% in March.

Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg had 7%, a 3-point drop, and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) held steady, also at 7%. Minnesota Gov. and Harris running mate Tim Walz had 5%, unchanged since March, and California Gov. Gavin Newsom dropped 2 points to 5%.

Daily Show host Jon Stewart was tied at 3% with a group of politicians: Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, and Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX).

Stewart’s support had improved a bit from March, going up 2 points. Smith’s did as well, from an unmeasured less than 1% to actually being 1% — a not quite auspicious start for someone with a national television platform who’s spent the last few months repeatedly talking about running for president and even did the Sunday talk show circuit to discuss it.

As of Monday, the November 7, 2028 election is in 1,303 days, and the primaries will kick off in Nevada and New York in 1,023 days on February 1, 2028.