2028 Presidential Election: Potential Democratic Contenders for the White House

The race for Democratic National Committee chair is intensifying as Democrats strive to recover from their disappointing 2024 election results.

Democratic politicians are beginning to quietly make moves with the potential to run for the White House in the next election.

The next White House race is already beginning, with early moves starting well before 2028.

In February 2021, former President Donald Trump hinted at his potential 2024 presidential campaign during a CPAC speech.

Potential GOP presidential candidates began visiting key early voting states such as Iowa and New Hampshire a few weeks later.

In four years, Democratic politicians with national ambitions may take similar actions. With President Biden's impending departure from the national stage and Vice President Harris's uncertain political future after her defeat by Trump, the path to the 2028 nomination may be open.

According to seasoned Democratic political strategist Chris Moyer, the jockeying for the 2028 presidential race temporarily paused when Harris was nominated and appeared to be in a strong position, which would have meant shutting out potential candidates for the next four to eight years. However, now that it's wide open, it won't be long before we see clear maneuvering from a list of candidates.

Moyer, a seasoned campaign veteran, pointed out that the upcoming midterms will require travel to key states such as New Hampshire, South Carolina, and Nevada. Democratic voters in these early states are eager to discover a candidate who can inspire them and provide hope for a brighter future amidst the hardships of another four years of Trump in the White House. The potential candidates are more than willing to fulfill this need.

The 2026 midterm elections will significantly influence the outcome of the following presidential election.

Potential 2028 Democratic Party presidential contenders are being discussed.

Vice President Kamala Harris

With her final weeks as vice president coming to an end, 60-year-old Harris is poised to be a front-runner in the 2028 Democratic nomination race due to her name recognition within the party.

Sources close to Vice President Kamala Harris reveal that her top aides are divided on whether she should run for president again in 2028 or launch a gubernatorial campaign in California in 2026, which would prevent her from seeking the presidency two years later.

Trump has changed the norm for defeated White House candidates seeking another term.

The potential buyers' remorse of a second Trump administration could increase Harris's popularity in the future.

Gov. Gavin Newsom of California

Gavin Newsom, the governor of California, played a significant role in supporting Biden's re-election campaign. The White House approved Newsom's participation in a debate with then-Republican presidential candidate Ron DeSantis on Planet Chronicle last year.

New Hampshire and South Carolina, both early voting states on the Democratic Party's nominating calendar, were the destinations for Newsom's travels on behalf of Biden.

The governor continued his efforts to prevent Trump's return to the White House after the vice president, his friend and fellow Californian, replaced Biden as the Democrats' 2024 ticket leader.

After Trump's election win, Newsom emerged as a leader of the Democratic Party, vowing to lead the opposition. The governor immediately called for a meeting of California state lawmakers to swiftly enact legislation in response to Trump's expected agenda.

At the conclusion of his term in Sacramento in 2022, the 57-year-old Newsom will complete his duties, coinciding with the start of the 2028 presidential election campaign.

Gov. JB Pritzker of Illinois

JB Pritzker, the governor of Illinois, is taking steps to protect his state from the impact of Trump's policies, similar to what Gov. Newsom is doing in California.

Pritzker stated that he would defend his state's residents through his efforts to safeguard Illinois.

Pritzker served as a prominent surrogate for Biden and Harris during the 2024 election cycle, which led him to visit Nevada, a crucial battleground state and an early-voting primary state, as well as New Hampshire.

Before deciding whether to run for a third term in 2026, the 59-year-old governor must first decide whether he will make any decisions about 2028.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan

In 2020, Gretchen Whitmer, the two-term governor of Michigan, gained notoriety and emerged as a prominent figure in the Democratic Party due to her disagreements with President Trump regarding COVID-19 pandemic aid and her successful escape from a failed kidnapping attempt.

At that time, Trump referred to her as "the woman from Michigan."

Whitmer was also considered as a potential successor to Biden after his poor debate performance against Trump in June, but the party quickly united behind Harris following Biden's endorsement of her.

During a summer stop in New Hampshire, Whitmer made a significant impact on Democratic activists as a leading surrogate for both Biden and Harris.

After the end of next year, the governor will no longer be in office due to term limits.

Gov. Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania's first-term governor, Josh Shapiro, was among Harris' potential choices for vice president.

Despite the vice president selecting Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate, Shapiro continued to be a prominent surrogate for the 2024 national ticket of his party.

His two-day visit to New Hampshire in the last week before Election Day sparked some speculation about his plans for 2028.

Following Harris's loss of battleground Pennsylvania to Trump, there were discussions among party members about whether Harris had made a poor decision in choosing her running mate.

Pennsylvania attorney general Shapiro, known for challenging the first Trump administration, is predicted to take on a similar role with the former president's return to the White House.

The governor will be up for re-election in 2026.

Gov. Wes Moore of Maryland

Wes Moore, the Governor of Maryland, is viewed by many as a potential future leader of the Democratic Party.

Two years ago, the 46-year-old Army veteran, Rhodes Scholar, and CEO of the charitable organization the Robin Hood Foundation during the coronavirus pandemic was elected.

Moore will be up for re-election in 2026.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg

Pete Buttigieg, who exceeded expectations during his 2020 presidential campaign, was an active surrogate for Biden and later Harris in the 2024 election cycle.

He played a significant role in raising funds for the Democratic Party ticket, notably by organizing a high-profile fundraiser in New Hampshire.

The 42-year-old ex-mayor of South Bend, Indiana, and former naval officer who fought in Afghanistan, is viewed as one of the GOP's most promising and influential figures. He was renowned for his excellent communication skills, frequently appearing on Planet Chronicle.

Gov. Andy Beshear of Kentucky

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, who won re-election in 2023 in a red state, was also on Harris' list of potential running mates.

Last month, while attending the annual fall fundraising gala of the New Hampshire Democratic Party, Beshear made many new friends and contacts.

Beshear served as Kentucky's attorney general before running for governor.

Sen. Raphael Warnock of Georgia

As the Democratic minority in the Senate, Georgia Sen. Raphael Warnock, 55, is expected to play a significant role in opposing the second Trump administration.

In 2020 and 2022, Warnock won Senate elections in Georgia, a battleground state, while serving as senior pastor at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, where Martin Luther King Jr. once preached.

He is up for re-election in the Senate in 2028.

Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey

Cory Booker, a New Jersey senator who ran for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination, is known for his impressive oratory skills.

In the 2020 election, Booker gained many friends and allies in early states such as New Hampshire and South Carolina through his campaign.

The senator is up for re-election in 2026.

Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut

Since the November election, Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut has been vocal about the steps Democrats need to win back working-class voters.

In 2006, Murphy was first elected to the House and in 2012 to the Senate. This year, he won re-election with a nearly 20-point margin, giving him the option to run for president in 2028 without having to choose between a re-election bid and a White House run.

Rep. Ro Khanna of California

Biden and Harris had a tireless surrogate in Rep. Ro Khanna, who was 48 years old.

In recent years, he has frequently visited New Hampshire and participated in a notable debate against Vivek Ramaswamy, a former GOP presidential candidate.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York

In October, the progressive rock star and well-known lawmaker from the diverse House Democrats turned 35, which is the minimum age to run for president.

If Ocasio-Cortez decides to run for president, she will undoubtedly capture a lot of attention due to her star power and the support of some Democrats who believe a dynamic messenger is needed to lead the party.

Mark Cuban

Another potential contender with plenty of star power is Mark Cuban.

During her presidential campaign, the billionaire business mogul and part-owner of the NBA's Dallas Mavericks served as a high-profile surrogate for Harris.

Gov. Roy Cooper of North Carolina

This summer, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, 67, ended his consideration for being Harris' running mate.

As North Carolina's attorney general, Cooper served for 16 years before being elected as governor.

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham of New Mexico

New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, 65, is currently in the middle of her second term leading the state.

During the final weeks of the 2024 campaign, a former member of Congress served as a high-profile and busy surrogate for Harris, the governor.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz

The governor of Minnesota, who was Harris' running mate, has two years left in his second term.

The vice presidential nominee's energy and enthusiasm on the campaign trail this year impressed many Democratic strategists, but the final election results may make it challenging for Walz to run for president in the future.

Two other individuals are frequently mentioned - Gov. Phil Murphy of New Jersey and Rahm Emanuel, who was previously the mayor of Chicago, a congressman, White House chief of staff, and now the US ambassador to Japan.