The Race for the 2028 Democratic Presidential Nomination is Heating Up
As Democrats aim to rebound from their stunning setbacks in the 2024 elections, the race for the Democratic National Committee chair is gaining momentum. Meanwhile, moves by Democratic politicians with national ambitions in the next White House race are also starting to take shape. While 2028 may seem like a long way away, recent history shows that the early moves in the next White House race start very early.
The unofficial starting gun for the 2024 race was fired by then-former President Donald Trump less than two months after leaving the White House, with a CPAC speech that teased his eventual 2024 presidential campaign. A few weeks later, the first visits to the key early voting states of Iowa and New Hampshire by potential GOP presidential contenders were underway.
Fast-forward four years, and expect similar actions by Democratic politicians who may harbor national ambitions. With President Biden exiting the national stage and Vice President Kamala Harris not immediately rushing to decide her political future, the road to the 2028 nomination may be wide open.
Several Democratic politicians are being mentioned as potential 2028 presidential contenders, including:
* Vice President Kamala Harris, who is considering a run for governor of California in 2026
* Gov. Gavin Newsom of California, who was a top surrogate for President Biden
* Gov. JB Pritzker of Illinois, who is considering a run for re-election in 2026
* Gov. Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan, who is term-limited and will leave office after the end of next year
* Gov. Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania, who is up for re-election in 2026
* Gov. Wes Moore of Maryland, who is up for re-election in 2026
* Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who surpassed expectations during his 2020 Democratic presidential nomination run
* Gov. Andy Beshear of Kentucky, who was elected governor in 2019 and re-elected in 2023
* Sen. Raphael Warnock of Georgia, who will likely be a major player in Washington as the Democratic minority in the Senate fights back against the second Trump administration
* Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey, who ran for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination
* Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut, who has been vocal about the steps Democrats need to make to win back working-class voters
* Rep. Ro Khanna of California, who was a tireless surrogate on behalf of Biden and then Harris
* Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, who turned 35, the minimum age to run for president, in October
* Mark Cuban, the billionaire business mogul and part-owner of the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks
* Gov. Roy Cooper of North Carolina, who is finishing up his eighth and final year as governor
* Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham of New Mexico, who is halfway through her second term steering New Mexico
* Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, who served as Harris’ running mate
These politicians are already taking steps to position themselves for a potential 2028 presidential run, including traveling to key early voting states, debating potential opponents, and building relationships with party leaders and activists.