Potential Democratic contenders for the 2028 U.S. presidential election
Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg headlines a veterans' town hall in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on May 13, 2025, sparking speculation about a potential 2028 presidential run.
Four months into President Donald Trump's second term, there is already early movement among possible Democratic contenders for the 2028 presidential race.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, the Democrats' 2024 vice presidential candidate, and Maryland Governor Wes Moore, who has stated he is not preparing for a 2028 presidential bid, will both appear in South Carolina later this month, a state that the Democratic National Committee has designated to host the lead-off primary in their 2024 nominating calendar.
Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, who ran for president in 2020, will headline a major Democratic state party dinner in New Hampshire, a state that has traditionally held the first presidential primary.
As early as two weeks ago, 2020 Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg, who later served as Transportation secretary in former President Joe Biden's administration, headlined a town hall with veterans and military families in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, causing further conjecture about a possible 2028 campaign.
Besides these individuals, several others are being watched as potential 2028 Democratic presidential candidates.
J.B. Pritzker, the two-term Illinois governor, gave the keynote address at a major state party fundraising event in New Hampshire last month, hinting at a potential presidential bid. Two-term Democratic Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, who has mentioned he would consider running for president if he felt capable of uniting the country, is another name being mentioned.
Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York has garnered attention due to her co-headlining of numerous large rallies across the country with Senator Bernie Sanders, another potential candidate. The Democratic Party, since their November 2022 election setbacks, has faced criticism for being too timid in opposing President Trump's agenda in the early months of his second term. The base of the Democratic Party has been actively pushing for stronger action against Trump's initiatives.
Although Democrats are focusing on the upcoming midterm elections, where they hope to make gains at the ballot box, they are also looking ahead to the 2028 presidential race. One Democratic strategist, Chris Moyer, noted that considering potential candidates provides a sense of hope and a look towards a future that does not include Trump. Moyer, who has been involved in several Democratic presidential campaigns, stated that the race is open and that there will be significant movement from various candidates in the near future.
The results of the 2026 midterm elections will play a significant role in shaping the 2028 presidential race. For now, here are 20 Democrats to keep an eye on as possible contenders for the 2028 presidential race.
Kamala Harris, the former vice president, has picked up the political pace recently, including headlining a major Democratic National Committee fundraiser in New York City and another one in San Francisco next week. Harris, also a former district attorney, California attorney general, and U.S. senator from California, would be a strong contender should she decide to run.
Since Trump's return to the White House, there has been growing interest in a potential Harris run in 2028, despite some within the party wanting to move on from the Biden-Harris era following Trump's sweeping victory. Potential buyer's remorse about a second Trump administration could boost Harris in the coming years.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the progressive star and most well-known member of the so-called "Squad" of diverse House Democrats, is another potential Democratic candidate for 2028. There have been whispers about her potentially challenging Senator Chuck Schumer of New York when he is up for re-election in 2028.
Gavin Newsom, the California governor, attracted attention as a top surrogate for Biden during the 2024 campaign and has been vocal about taking action to "Trump-proof" his state. Newsom is term-limited and will leave office at the end of next year, right around the time the 2028 presidential race will heat up.
J.B. Pritzker, the governor of Illinois, has been a leading voice in the opposition to Trump and has taken steps to protect his solidly blue state from the president's initiatives. Pritzker, like Newsom, is expected to continue playing an influential role as Trump serves a second term.
Gretchen Whitmer, the governor of Michigan, has gained recognition and become a rising star in the Democratic Party since her feud with Trump over COVID-19 federal assistance and her survival of a foiled kidnapping attempt. Whitmer is term-limited and will leave office at the end of next year.
Josh Shapiro, the governor of Pennsylvania, was on Harris' shortlist for vice president but ultimately did not receive the nomination. Shapiro remained an active surrogate throughout the campaign and is expected to continue playing a significant role in opposition to Trump during his second term.
Wes Moore, the governor of Maryland, is another Democratic Party rising star and is considered by many to be a potential contender for the 2028 presidential race. Moore, an Army veteran, Rhodes Scholar, and CEO of the charitable organization Robin Hood Foundation, was elected governor two years ago.
Pete Buttigieg, the former Transportation secretary, impressed voters during his 2020 Democratic presidential nomination campaign and has been actively involved as a surrogate for the administration. Buttigieg, who passed on a 2026 Senate bid in Michigan and made a high-profile appearance in Iowa earlier this month, is considered one of the party's brightest stars.
Andy Beshear, the governor of Kentucky, was on Harris' longer list for potential running mates and made headlines when he attended the state Democratic Party's annual fall fundraising gala in New Hampshire last year. Beshear was Kentucky's attorney general before serving as governor.
Raphael Warnock, Georgia's senator, is a crucial player in Washington as Democrats confront the second Trump administration. Warnock, who won Senate elections in 2020 and 2022 in battleground Georgia, was the senior pastor at the famed Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, where Martin Luther King Jr. once preached.
Cory Booker, the senator from New Jersey, is recognized for his skill as an orator and made headlines earlier this year with a record-breaking 25-hour and 5-minute marathon speech from the floor of the Senate. Booker, who ran for president in 2020, is up for re-election in 2026.
Chris Murphy, the senator from Connecticut, has been vocal about the steps Democrats need to take to regain the trust of working-class voters. First elected to the House in 2006 and then to the Senate in 2012, Murphy cruised to re-election this year by nearly 20 points, meaning he would not have to decide between a presidential run and re-election in 2028.
Amy Klobuchar, the Democratic senator from Minnesota, ran for president in 2020 and came in a strong third in New Hampshire's first-in-the-nation primary. Klobuchar has not ruled out making another run for the White House in 2028.
Ro Khanna, the representative from California, was a tireless surrogate for the Biden-Harris campaign and has been making headlines this year with town halls in Republican-held congressional districts and events targeting Vice President JD Vance in both the vice president's home state of Ohio and at Yale Law School, where both politicians earned their legal degrees.
Stephen A. Smith, the sports TV personality, sports radio host, sports journalist, and actor, has generated a lot of buzz as he considers a White House run, even capturing the attention of Trump.
Mark Cuban, the billionaire business mogul and part-owner of the NBA's Dallas Mavericks, was a high-profile surrogate for Harris during her presidential election campaign.
Roy Cooper, the former governor of North Carolina, has been heavily recruited by Democrats to try and flip a Republican-held Senate seat in North Carolina in next year's midterms. Cooper served as governor for eight years before finishing up his term in January.
Michelle Lujan Grisham, the governor of New Mexico, is halfway through her second term as governor and was a high-profile and active surrogate for Harris during the final weeks of the 2024 campaign.
Tim Walz, the Minnesota governor, has two years remaining in his second term. Although Walz's energy and enthusiasm during the 2024 campaign impressed many Democratic strategists, a strong showing for Trump in the 2026 midterms could make a 2028 bid challenging for Walz.
Rahm Emanuel, the U.S. ambassador to Japan, has a lengthy political resume, including serving as ambassador during the Biden administration, as a member of Congress, and as Chief of Staff under President Obama. Rumors of Emanuel running for president in 2028 have been circulating recently.
Gina Raimondo, the former governor of Rhode Island, made history as the first woman to serve as governor of the state and was Commerce Secretary in Biden's cabinet. When asked about a potential 2028 presidential bid last month, Raimondo replied, "Yes."
Phil Murphy, the governor of New Jersey, and Ruben Gallego, the representative from Arizona, are also names being mentioned as potential contenders for the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination.
- As the Democratic Party looks towards the 2028 presidential race, healthcare is expected to be a major campaign issue, with Pete Buttigieg, former Transportation Secretary and potential candidate, having previously focused on improving healthcare access during his 2020 campaign.
- Amid growing interest in the 2028 presidential race, sports will likely play a lesser role in the election, despite figures like Stephen A. Smith, sports TV personality and White House hopeful, generating buzz for a potential White House run. However, sports-related controversies around political figures, such as Pete Buttigieg's high-profile appearance at a sports event in Iowa, may still factor into campaign narratives.
