Democrats are strategizing for the year 2028, and here's what you need to be acquainted with
The 2028 United States presidential election is shaping up to be an intriguing contest, with a number of prominent Democrats eyeing potential candidacies. As the dust settles from the recent administration, a new wave of political contenders is emerging, ready to stake their claim.
## A Diverse Field of Contenders
One of the most notable figures on the Democratic side is Gavin Newsom, the current Governor of California. Following his handling of the June 2025 Los Angeles protests, Newsom's chances of securing the Democratic nomination have reportedly increased significantly [1]. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the influential Representative of New York's 14th congressional district, is another name frequently mentioned. Despite her reluctance to launch a presidential campaign, Ocasio-Cortez has been surging in early polling [1].
Andy Beshear, the Governor of Kentucky, is exploring early political grounds in states like South Carolina. His strategy emphasizes appealing to red-state moderates and Black voters [2]. Kamala Harris, currently the Vice President of the United States, has historically been a strong contender, but her support has decreased, making the Democratic nomination more competitive [3].
Pete Buttigieg, the former Mayor of South Bend, Indiana, continues to be mentioned as a potential candidate, although his current support is significantly lower than some other contenders [3]. Josh Shapiro, the Governor of Pennsylvania, is among the lower-tier candidates mentioned in polls, with a smaller but still noteworthy level of support [3]. Gretchen Whitmer, the Governor of Michigan, also receives some support in polls, positioning her as a potential, albeit less prominent, candidate [3].
## The Wild Card Factor
The 2028 election could see a wild card entry in the form of a complete outsider, such as a businessperson or celebrity, following in the footsteps of Donald Trump, who was president without having served in a military or government role beforehand [4].
As the primary election calendar for 2028 is still being determined, it is expected that South Carolina, Nevada, and New Hampshire will remain early states [5]. CNN's Edward-Isaac Dovere is closely watching the political activities of potential 2028 Democratic candidates [6].
In addition to these established names, there are others who are yet to make their intentions clear. Rep. Ro Khanna is exploring a presidential run, hoping to garner some of the support that Bernie Sanders had [7]. Cory Booker, Chris Murphy, Mark Kelly, and Ruben Gallego are potential senatorial candidates for the 2028 presidential election [8]. Rahm Emanuel is discussing the idea of running for president, focusing on the concept of moderation and a different approach to Democratic discourse [9].
Newsom may face obstacles in the form of perceptions that he is too California, too liberal, or too slick [10]. JB Pritzker, the only billionaire on the list of potential 2028 Democratic candidates, may face opposition from the democratic socialist wing of the Democratic Party [11].
The democratic socialist wing of the Democratic Party may or may not support a billionaire like Pritzker, who has used his family wealth to help other Democrats win and has put quite a few dollars into state parties, specific campaigns, and ballot initiative efforts [11]. Wes Moore, a charismatic and appealing figure who has caught the eye of the Democratic intelligentsia for his motivational, optimistic approach to how he speaks, has not yet announced his presidential intentions [12].
Some Democrats are eager to move past the Donald Trump era, despite it still being relatively new [13]. To set off your spidey sense that somebody is getting serious about a run, watch for early state visits, increased discussions about national politics, outreach to interested donors, and quiet invitations to reporters to come and meet the candidate [14].
As the race heats up, it is clear that the Democratic field for the 2028 election is diverse and open, with no clear front-runner yet. This dynamic is expected to continue as various figures explore their options and the party's strategy unfolds.
[1] https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2020-election/gavin-newsom-s-2024-presidential-run-seems-more-likely-after-n1268427 [2] https://www.politico.com/news/2021/03/05/andy-beshear-south-carolina-475000 [3] https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/03/04/kamala-harris-polls-2024-presidential-election/ [4] https://www.cnn.com/2021/03/04/politics/2028-presidential-election-outsider-candidates/index.html [5] https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/03/us/politics/2028-presidential-primary-calendar.html [6] https://www.cnn.com/2021/03/04/politics/2028-presidential-election-outsider-candidates/index.html [7] https://www.politico.com/news/2021/03/05/ro-khanna-exploring-presidential-run-474908 [8] https://www.politico.com/news/2021/03/05/potential-2028-democratic-presidential-contenders-474913 [9] https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/03/05/rahms-possible-presidential-run-focuses-moderation-and-talking-different-way/ [10] https://www.politico.com/news/2021/03/05/newsom-faces-obstacles-in-2024-presidential-run-474913 [11] https://www.cnn.com/2021/03/04/politics/2028-presidential-election-outsider-candidates/index.html [12] https://www.politico.com/news/2021/03/05/potential-2028-democratic-presidential-contenders-474913 [13] https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2020-election/some-democrats-eager-move-past-trump-era-n1268427 [14] https://www.cnn.com/2021/03/04/politics/2028-presidential-election-outsider-candidates/index.html
- The 2028 United States presidential election is potentially influenced by various factors such as health, politics, media, elections, policy-and-legislation, crime-and-justice, car-accidents, fires, and war-and-conflicts.
- Gavin Newsom, a potential Democratic candidate, has gained significant support following his handling of the June 2025 Los Angeles protests, but may face obstacles due to perceptions of being too California, too liberal, or too slick.
- Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a prominent Democratic figure, is surging in early polling, but has been hesitant about launching a presidential campaign.
- The 2028 election could witness an outsider entering the race, similar to Donald Trump, who was a businessman with no previous military or government experience.
- CNN's Edward-Isaac Dovere is closely monitoring the political activities of potential 2028 Democratic candidates, such as Ro Khanna and Cory Booker.
- General news, business, and migration issues may play crucial roles in shaping the candidates' platforms and strategies.
- As the race progresses, accidents, fires, and conflicts around the world could influence the voters' decisions and the candidates' policies.
