Tourism Minister David Collado has extended his lead inside the ruling Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM) ahead of the 2028 presidential elections, while Senator Omar Fernández has sharply closed the distance with former President Leonel Fernández within Fuerza del Pueblo, according to a new survey by ACD Media.
The survey shows Collado securing 59.9 percent support among PRM members in August, up from 54.2 percent in July. Mayor Carolina Mejía also saw her internal standing increase from 17.4 percent to 20.5 percent, though Collado now commands nearly six out of every ten party preferences.
Among the general public evaluating PRM candidates, Collado remained stable at 39.8 percent in August compared to 40.4 percent in July. Mejía increased her standing with general voters from 13.5 percent to 18.4 percent, closing part of the gap outside party ranks while Collado maintained clear internal dominance.
Shift in Fuerza del Pueblo Competition
In Fuerza del Pueblo, former President Leonel Fernández retains internal control, but his lead over Senator Omar Fernández shrank substantially. In July, Leonel Fernández led among party members with 67 percent compared to 33 percent for Omar Fernández. By August, Leonel Fernández recorded 53.9 percent, while Omar Fernández rose to 42.9 percent, narrowing the internal gap from 34 points to 11 points in one month.
The relationship reverses among the general population, where Omar Fernández remains the Fuerza del Pueblo figure with the greatest reach outside the organization. He captured 45.5 percent support among general voters in August compared to 34.2 percent for Leonel Fernández.
While Omar Fernández dropped slightly from 47 percent in July, and Leonel Fernández improved by 4.3 points from 29.9 percent, the senator maintains an 11.3-point lead outside the party. ACD Media noted that while Leonel Fernández remains stronger inside Fuerza del Pueblo, Omar Fernández continues to hold greater appeal outside of it, though distances are closing in both directions as party members align closer to Omar Fernández and general voters view Leonel Fernández more favorably.
PLD Internal Shift and Undecided Voters
Within the Dominican Liberation Party (PLD), Gonzalo Castillo maintains first place but shows internal weakening. Among PLD members, Castillo dropped from 46.8 percent in July to 37.8 percent in August, while Francisco Javier García went from 23.4 percent to 21.4 percent.
Castillo's decline inside the party did not translate into support for a specific competitor. Instead, the proportion of PLD members expressing no preference for any candidate rose significantly to 20.3 percent. Among the general public, Castillo held his level virtually intact at 35.8 percent in August, while Francisco Javier García reached 20.5 percent.
Survey Trends and Technical Specifications
ACD Media highlighted three distinct political situations heading toward 2028: the PRM exhibits broadly consolidated leadership around Collado, Fuerza del Pueblo shows an active generational competition, and the PLD keeps Castillo ahead without the level of internal dominance seen in the PRM.
With nearly two years remaining before the 2028 elections, the survey indicates that candidate standings remain fluid. Collado has strengthened his internal hold, Omar Fernández has expanded rapidly into Fuerza del Pueblo's base, and Castillo's support inside the PLD has lost intensity. In a landscape of growing partisan detachment, an applicant's ability to transcend their party structure may prove as decisive as controlling it.
The ACD Media survey was conducted between August 8 and August 11, 2026, with a sample size of 1,200 respondents and a 95 percent confidence level.
