Democrats jubilant over Zohran Mamdani’s victory in the New York City mayoral’s race on Tuesday got a reality check from a newly released survey on Friday.
A string of off-cycle election victories on Tuesday highlighted the strength of an energized liberal base nationwide and hinted at the Democratic Party’s potential path back to power. However, the results stopped short of producing a clear leader of the party capable of channeling that momentum, Politico reported.
There are still numerous contenders vying for influence within the Democratic Party.
A Politico poll conducted by Public First in the final weeks of the election revealed no clear agreement among 2024 Kamala Harris voters. When asked an open-ended question — Who do you consider to be the leader of the Democratic Party? — respondents offered a wide range of answers, underscoring the absence of a single dominant figure:
“Ugh, no one.” – 26-year-old white woman in Arizona who voted for Harris
“Not sure who it is now, that is kind of the problem.” – 50-year-old white woman in California who voted for Harris
“I do not believe there is a leader right now.” – 49-year-old white man in Maryland who voted for Harris
The most common response was “I don’t know,” or a similar variation, accounting for more than one-fifth (21%) of answers. Another 11% of respondents said “nobody,” highlighting the widespread uncertainty.
Harris, the former vice president, ranked highest on the list — and was the only figure to reach double digits — but just 16% of those who voted for her in 2024 identified her as the party’s leader. That relatively modest share comes despite her status as the most recent Democratic presidential nominee, her ongoing book tour, and her standing as a potential 2028 contender.
Other top responses included a range of party veterans, from congressional leaders to former presidents. Of those, only Harris and California Gov. Gavin Newsom — cited by 6% of her 2024 supporters — are widely seen as serious prospects for the 2028 race.
“This is where we are, guys,” noted Lauren Harper Pope, a Democratic strategist and co-founder of WelcomePAC, which supports center-left candidates, per Politico.
The party is divided “factionally and ideologically,” she said, adding: “I couldn’t tell you who the leader of the Democratic Party is, either, and I work in Democratic politics.”
On Tuesday, a fractured Democratic Party that had spent the past year reeling from its 2024 defeats found a renewed sense of optimism. Democrats scored sweeping victories in a series of statewide and local races across very blue regions, delivering a morale boost one year after Donald Trump’s return to the White House and the GOP’s consolidation of power in Washington.
In two closely watched gubernatorial contests, moderates Abigail Spanberger in Virginia and Mikie Sherrill in New Jersey won decisive victories. In California, Gov. Gavin Newsom’s redistricting strategy appeared to pay off, while down-ballot races in Georgia, Pennsylvania, and Virginia showed notable Democratic gains.
Meanwhile, in New York City, democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani won the mayor’s race by a wide margin — a result that set off alarm bells for Republicans in the nation’s capital.
“It felt like we’re getting our footing back, in terms of politics,” Lanae Erickson, vice president at the centrist-leaning Democratic think tank Third Way, told Politico.
However, Erickson added, those wins did not produce a leader for the Democratic Party. “That has not yet translated to people seeing clearly who they think is pointing the direction of the party,” he said.
The contrast between the two major parties could not be more striking. Among Republicans, there is no confusion about who leads the party: 81% of Trump’s 2024 voters identified him as the current GOP leader. Only 6% said they were unsure, and just 2% responded “nobody.”
The next most frequently mentioned figures were Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and Vice President JD Vance, who were named by 3% and 2% of respondents, respectively, Politico reported.
