Overview
- CNN’s Harry Enten described the early Democratic lineup as a “downright clown car” with no clear leader, calling the situation unusual for this point in the cycle.
- He noted the last comparable moment without a clear Democratic frontrunner was 1992.
- Kalshi prediction-market pricing for Gavin Newsom as the 2028 nominee fell from about 37% three months ago to 28% now.
- Google searches for Newsom are down 63% from their August peak, when interest spiked following his online attacks on President Trump.
- Early hypothetical polling shows a tight cluster: Newsom at 19%, Kamala Harris at 18%, Pete Buttigieg at 13%, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez at 12%, as Newsom also fields backlash over Atlanta remarks he calls false accusations of racism.