Several political figures on both sides of the aisle increased their profile in 2024 and are primed to become key voices in their respective parties in 2025 and beyond.
Democrats Suffer a Major Blow
Democrats suffered a major blow in 2024, in a year that saw President Biden bow out of the political race and be replaced by VP Kamala Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, who lost both the Electoral College and popular vote in November. Going forward, several Democrats are expected to fill that leadership void heading into the midterms.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro
Shapiro was widely considered to be the strongest vice presidential candidate to join the Harris ticket this summer, and Harris received criticism for her decision to select Walz instead. Shapiro, viewed as a moderate by some, has been governor of the state since January 2023 and will face a re-election test in 2026 before any potential 2028 run.
Pennsylvania’s 19 electoral votes make it a key state in presidential elections, making Shapiro’s position as governor of that state an appealing attribute for any presidential candidate.
House Rep. Pat Ryan
Ryan, who represents New York’s 18th Congressional District, was considered one of the most vulnerable incumbents heading into the November election but defeated his Republican challenger by 14 points in a swing district. Since the election, Ryan has been one of the most outspoken Democrats on the subject of what went wrong for his party in November.
Senator-elect Angela Alsobrooks
Alsobrooks, who previously served as the chief executive of Prince George’s County in the suburbs of the nation’s capital, defeated popular Republican Larry Hogan by 11 points in the Maryland Senate race. Alsobrooks campaigned heavily on gun control and abortion and won the clear support of women, Black and Latino voters, urban voters, and college graduates over Hogan.
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore
Moore, who is believed to be a rising voice in the Democratic Party after being elected as the state’s first Black governor in 2022. Moore, a graduate of Johns Hopkins University and a Rhodes scholar, served as a captain in the Army before spending time as an investment banker and has labeled himself a “social moderate and strong fiscal conservative.”
California Gov. Gavin Newsom
Newsom is not a political newcomer but is expected to be one of the top candidates to run for president on the Democratic side in 2028 after establishing himself as one of the top surrogates for Biden and Harris during the last presidential cycle. Newsom, who has served as California governor since 2019, is term-limited once his current tenure ends in January 2027.
Vice President-Elect J.D. Vance
Vance, 40, will be the presumptive front-runner for president in 2028 given his position as Trump’s vice president and is expected to be one of the more prominent voices in the Republican Party over the next few years.
House Rep. Byron Donalds
Donalds, who has represented Florida’s 19th Congressional District since 2019, was a top surrogate for Trump on the campaign trail in 2024 and many believed he was on the short list of vice presidential candidates. The Florida congressman has been an outspoken voice on cable news promoting Trump’s agenda and has also been one of the most prominent voices pushing back against the media’s attacks on Trump, often appearing on liberal networks defending the president-elect in hostile environments.
Senator-elect Bernie Moreno
Moreno, a supporter of term limits, has pledged to only serve two six-year terms in the Senate. Moreno, a businessman from Cleveland, was a top surrogate for Trump and has been one of the most loyal allies in the Senate.
Representative-elect Abraham Hamadeh
Hamadeh, a 33-year-old born to Syrian immigrants, has been a vocal supporter of Trump and the “Make America Great Again Agenda.” He told Fox News Digital last month that he and fellow Republicans will “hit the ground running with something very historic in the first hundred days.” Hamadeh is set to serve on both the Veterans Affairs Committee and Armed Services Committee in the 119th Congress.