Joe Biden seizes a surprising 24-point lead over Bernie Sanders in new Democratic primary poll


It was "a huge opening weekend for former Vice President Joe Biden — think Avengers: Endgame here," CNN's John Berman said on Tuesday morning's New Day, introducing a new national poll that shows Biden taking a commanding lead in the 2020 Democratic field one day after officially joining the race.
In the CNN/SSRS poll, conducted April 25-29, Biden opened up a commanding lead in the 20-person Democratic field, grabbing 39 percent of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents, more than double the support of his next-closest rival, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), at 15 percent. Next is Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) at 8 percent, followed by South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg at 7 percent, former Texas Rep. Beto O'Rourke at 6 percent, and Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) at 5 percent. Biden's support jumped 11 percentage points since the last CNN/SSRS poll, while Buttigieg jumped 6 points and everybody else lost ground.
The top issue for Democrats and leaners was combating climate change, and the most important attribute for a candidate was ability to beat President Trump, the poll found. Biden's early message has focused on beating Trump. He leads the other 19 candidates among all major demographic groups, including half of non-white voters, but two-thirds of voters said they could still change their mind about which candidate they support. Biden's lead in the CNN poll is slightly larger than in Monday's Morning Consult tracking poll, which had Biden leading Sanders 36 percent to 22 percent; that poll was conducted April 22-28.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
SSRS polled 1,007 adults nationwide over the phone, but the sample of 411 Democratic and Democratic-leaning independent registered voters has a margin or sampling error of ±5.9 percentage points.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
Today's political cartoons - April 18, 2025
Cartoons Friday's cartoons - El Salvador, political fundraising, and more
By The Week US
-
The week's best photos
In Pictures A sea of kites, a game of sand hockey, and more
By Anahi Valenzuela, The Week US
-
G20: Viola Davis stars in 'ludicrous' but fun action thriller
The Week Recommends The award-winning actress plays the 'swashbuckling American president' in this newly released Prime Video film
By The Week UK
-
The anger fueling the Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez barnstorming tour
Talking Points The duo is drawing big anti-Trump crowds in red states
By Joel Mathis, The Week US
-
Judge threatens Trump team with criminal contempt
Speed Read James Boasberg attempts to hold the White House accountable for disregarding court orders over El Salvador deportation flights
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US
-
Biden slams Trump's Social Security cuts
Speed Read In his first major public address since leaving office, Biden criticized the Trump administration's 'damage' and 'destruction'
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
El Salvador refuses to return US deportee
Speed Read President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador said he would not send back the unlawfully deported Kilmar Ábrego García
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Trump says electronics tariff break won't last
Speed Read The tariff exemptions on smartphones, laptops and other electronic devices are temporary, the administration says
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Man charged in arson attack on Pennsylvania's Shapiro
Speed Read Governor Josh Shapiro and his family were sleeping when someone set fire to his Harrisburg mansion
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
White House pushes for oversight of Columbia University
Speed Read The Trump administration is considering placing the school under a consent decree
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US
-
Supreme Court backs wrongly deported migrant
Speed Read The Trump administration must 'facilitate' the return of wrongfully deported migrant Kilmar Ábrego García from El Salvador, Supreme Court says
By Peter Weber, The Week US