The most important Democratic primary endorsements: poll
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Sens. Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren arrive for a vote at the Capitol last year. Photo: Kent Nishimura/Getty Images
Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), two progressive powerhouses, hold the most influential endorsements in Democratic primaries, according to new polling shared with Axios.
Why it matters: Democratic figures have already started firing off endorsements for the 2026 midterms. But new data reveals only a fraction of those endorsements motivate primary voters.
- 60% of likely Democratic primary voters are more likely to support a politician endorsed by Sanders, according to recent polling by Data for Progress. That figure is 56% for Warren.
- The endorsements of top Democratic leaders like Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries aren't as powerful as the endorsements of other prominent Democrats, according to the poll.
The big picture: There are several high-stakes primaries for Democrats next year. Progressives and moderates will try to put their thumbs on the scales of those contests.
- Senate Democrats are preparing for open primaries in Michigan, Illinois, Texas, Florida and North Carolina.
Zoom in: These are how political figures polled among Democratic primary voters.
- Sen. Bernie Sanders — Net +48 (More likely: 60%, Less likely: 12%)
- Sen. Elizabeth Warren — Net +46 (More likely: 56%, Less likely: 10%)
- Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg — Net +44 (More likely: 53%, Less likely: 9%)
- Gov. Tim Walz — Net +44 (More likely: 54%, Less likely: 10%)
- Sen. Cory Booker — Net +38 (More likely: 51%, Less likely: 13%)
- House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries — Net +37 (More likely: 47%, Less likely: 10%)
- Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez — Net +31 (More likely: 44%, Less likely: 13%)
- Gov. Gretchen Whitmer — Net +31 (More likely: 39%, Less likely: 8%)
- Gov. Josh Shapiro — Net +29 (More likely: 40%, Less likely: 11%)
- Sen. Amy Klobuchar — Net +29 (More likely: 40%, Less likely: 11%)
- Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer — Net +27 (More likely: 43%, Less likely: 16%)
- Rep. Jasmine Crockett — Net +26 (More likely: 33%, Less likely: 7%)
- Gov. Gavin Newsom — Net +25 (More likely: 38%, Less likely: 13%)
- Gov. Andy Beshear — Net +23 (More likely: 32%, Less likely: 9%)
- Businessman Mark Cuban — Net +23 (More likely: 35%, Less likely: 12%)
- Gov. J.B. Pritzker — Net +21 (More likely: 29%, Less likely: 8%)
- Sen. Chris Murphy — Net +19 (More likely: 26%, Less likely: 7%)
- Gov. Wes Moore — Net +17 (More likely: 25%, Less likely: 8%)
- Sen. Tim Kaine — Net +17 (More likely: 28%, Less likely: 11%)
- Former Ambassador Rahm Emanuel — Net +14 (More likely: 25%, Less likely: 11%)
- Sen. Ruben Gallego — Net +10 (More likely: 21%, Less likely: 11%)
Data for Progress polled 409 likely Democratic primary voters from June 6 to June 8. The margin of error for the poll is 5%.
