After a bruising 2024 loss, Democrats are still searching for a clear path forward, and the early contours of the party’s next presidential race are already beginning to take shape.
If you’re looking for an early preview of the 2028 Democratic bench, New York City was the place to be. At Rev. Al Sharpton’s annual National Action Network convention in April, a slate of high-profile Democrats — many seen as potential contenders — took the stage, including Pete Buttigieg, Andy Beshear, Mark Kelly, Jim Clyburn, and Kamala Harris. Two notable names missing from the mix: Gavin Newsom and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who were reportedly unable to attend.
The conversations touched on everything from the midterms and affordability to the war in Iran — but the subtext was hard to miss: the jockeying for 2028 is already underway.
“Now more than ever, it’s on all of us to stand up for the future of our country,” Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker told the crowd Thursday. “At a minimum, everybody has to go vote in this coming election.”
The multi-day gathering marks one of the largest early showings of potential contenders yet.
Here’s a look at the Democrats who could be in the mix, and then read our list of Republicans rumored to be running for president in 2028.
Which Democrats could run for president in 2028?
Kamala Harris
One of the biggest questions hanging over the 2028 Democratic primary is whether the former vice president will take another shot at the White House. After her loss to Donald Trump in 2024, Harris vowed to “stay in the fight,” but has stopped short of formally entering the race.
Speculation has been building for months — first when she ruled out a run for California governor, and now more recently after her most direct comments yet at the National Action Network convention in New York on April 10.
Asked point-blank by the Rev. Al Sharpton about 2028, Harris didn’t shut it down: “I might, I might. I’m thinking about it… I’ll keep you posted,” she said, drawing cheers from a crowd of key Democratic power brokers. She added, “I know what the job is and what it requires.”
The moment — coupled with a warm reception and chants of “Run again!” — marked her clearest signal yet that a bid is on the table, even as allies insist she hasn’t made a final decision.
Early polling of 2028 presidential contenders has shown Harris as the front-runner, with the exception of a few polls that show California Gov. Gavin Newsom with more support.
Gavin Newsom
California Gov. Gavin Newsom has long been floated as one of the Democrats’ top contenders for the 2028 race. With his second term underway — and term limits preventing him from running for governor again — speculation about a presidential bid has only grown louder.
When asked about his future in an interview with CBS News Sunday Morning, Newsom didn’t exactly shut the door. He said he’ll weigh a run after the 2026 midterms, admitting, “I’d be lying otherwise.” Still, he made clear that any decision is a long way off: “Fate will determine that.”
In the meantime, he’s been busy raising his national profile. Beyond launching his podcast, This Is Gavin Newsom, in February — a series that dissects the MAGA movement and debates how Democrats should move forward post-2024 — Newsom has found another platform to build his brand: trolling Trump online. His frequent posts mocking the president on X routinely rack up millions of views, allowing him to reach audiences well beyond California.
Pete Buttigieg
Former transportation secretary — and increasingly frequent Fox News guest — Pete Buttigieg has ruled out a run for Michigan’s open Senate seat next year, keeping speculation alive about a possible 2028 White House bid.
In May, he said he’s considering it, noting he’s still weighing everything but that “any kind of decision process there is a long way off.” And in April, at the annual National Action Network convention, he hinted at the idea in a lighter moment with Al Sharpton, telling him to “save me a seat” when asked about a potential run.
The exchange drew cheers from the crowd and offered a glimpse of how Buttigieg is navigating the early stages of a possible campaign — stopping short of a formal move while keeping the door firmly open.
If he chooses to run, it wouldn’t be his first presidential campaign — he sought the Democratic nomination in 2020. After gaining an early boost by winning the Iowa Caucus, Buttigieg bowed out to support Joe Biden and later raised his national profile as Biden's secretary of transportation.
Since then, he has emerged as a rising star within the Democratic Party, earning attention for his sharp criticism of President Trump on issues like tariffs and rising consumer prices. “Today, our country is demonstrably less free, less secure, less democratic — and less prosperous — than it was just 10 weeks ago,” he said in a May blog post.
Tim Walz
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Harris’s running mate last year, has addressed the speculation himself, telling The New Yorker in March that he’d “certainly consider” running for president in 2028 if the circumstances are right, and he has the right "skill set" needed at the time. “I'll do whatever it takes. I certainly wouldn't be arrogant enough to think that it needs to be me," he added.
A moderate Democrat with a strong education and military service background, Walz’s approach seems to resonate with traditional working-class voters and progressive supporters. Though he may no longer be a constant presence on the national stage, Walz has been on the road, engaging with voters in red congressional districts. He’s also campaigned for Wisconsin liberal judicial candidate Susan Crawford ahead of the state Supreme Court race and headlined a Montana state party fundraising event in March.
Cory Booker
New Jersey Senator Cory Booker hasn’t declared a 2028 presidential run — at least not yet. When asked about the possibility, he deflected, saying he’s focused on “today” and his 2026 Senate reelection campaign.
But his recent moves are keeping the speculation alive. Widely regarded as one of the Democratic Party’s most gifted orators, Booker made headlines earlier this year with a record-breaking 25-hour, 5-minute speech on the Senate floor. The marathon protest took aim at both Trump’s sweeping second-term agenda and the controversial actions of Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency. It wasn’t a campaign speech, but it sure had the makings of one.
Gretchen Whitmer
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is frequently floated as a potential 2028 presidential contender — and with a 63 percent approval rating as of May in a critical swing state, it’s easy to see why.
Unlike some of her Democratic peers, Whitmer has positioned herself as a pragmatic leader open to working with Trump, a stance that some view as an asset in a deeply divided electorate. That posture has helped shape her image as a steady, diplomatic alternative in a crowded Democratic field.
While she didn’t shut the door on a presidential run during a January appearance on The View, Whitmer has since sought to tamp down speculation. In May, she reaffirmed her commitment to Michigan and said she plans to finish her term, which ends in January 2027. Still, with a rising national profile and strategic positioning, whispers of a 2028 run haven’t gone quiet.
Josh Shapiro
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro’s name continues to surface as Democrats look ahead to 2028. In 2024, he was frequently mentioned as a leading contender for Harris's vice presidential pick, though she ultimately chose Walz as her running mate.
Shapiro addressed the decision during a March appearance on Real Time with Bill Maher. “Look, I’ll just say one quick thing on that whole vice president thing,” he told Maher. “I said all along that Kamala Harris had a deeply personal decision to make in that process. In the end, so did I.” But the rest of his interview sounded an awful lot like a stump speech, according to some commentators.
Since the Democrats’ defeat last year, Shapiro has been a vocal critic within the party, pushing back against what he sees as a weak response to Trump. “They’re worried,” Shapiro said of voters during his appearance on Real Time. “They want to see action. There was an opportunity for more action here.”
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
There’s been a lot of talk lately about New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez rising as a key figure in the Democratic Party. While some see a path for her to challenge Chuck Schumer for Democratic leadership in the Senate, others are suggesting she could be a contender for the 2028 presidential race.
"Just a word of warning to the Republicans, to my party: Do not underestimate AOC. She's young, she's vibrant, she's attractive,” former Trump official Monica Crowley told Fox News.
The congresswoman has also been making moves to expand her national profile. She’s been hitting the road with Bernie Sanders on his “Fighting Oligarchy” tour — rallying crowds across the country on issues like economic inequality, healthcare, and climate. The tour has drawn massive audiences, giving her a platform that goes well beyond her Bronx district and energizing progressives at a moment when the party is struggling to define its future.
J.B. Pritzker
With his gubernatorial term set to conclude in January 2027, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker appears to be laying the groundwork for a potential 2028 presidential bid. Outlets like Politico report that the popular Democrat has been delivering high-profile speeches and ramping up fundraising — classic signs of someone testing the waters.
But during an appearance on April 10 at the annual National Action Network convention, Pritzker dodged questions about 2028, instead focusing on his current term and the stakes of the midterms.
“I’ve been involved every presidential election, one fashion or another, since I wasn’t an adult, and I’m going to be more involved than ever before in 2028 because we can’t lose,” he said.
It wouldn’t be a shock if he’s eyeing a higher office. Pritzker has emerged as a prominent voice in the Democratic resistance to Trump, once telling reporters: “You come for my people, you come through me.”
Andy Beshear
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear says he’d be open to a presidential run if he thought he could truly bring the country together.
"My family’s been through a lot, but I do not want to leave a broken country to my kids or anyone else’s,” Beshear told CNN’s “State of the Union" in July.
It’s a shift from a couple of years ago, when he said he wouldn’t have even considered a presidential bid. “What I think is most important for 2028 is a candidate who can heal this country and bring people back together,” he said.
Beshear gained national attention after winning the governorship in a deep-red state twice and was even floated as a potential running mate for Harris in 2024.
Roy Cooper
Former North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper is still seen as a potential player in the 2028 presidential race. As governor, he left a big mark by expanding Medicaid and repealing the state’s “bathroom ban” that targeted transgender people.
In his farewell speech last December, Cooper said he wasn’t finished with politics: “I’m not done.” True to his word, he jumped back into the arena and is now running for Senate in North Carolina — a move many Democrats hope could serve as a springboard for a future White House bid.
"Right now, our country is facing a moment as fragile as any I can remember, and the decisions we make in the next election will determine if we even have a middle class in America anymore,” said Cooper, while announcing his latest campaign.
Raphael Warnock
Georgia Sen. Raphael Warnock is increasingly seen as a potential 2028 presidential contender. His two hard-fought Senate victories in a pivotal battleground state have cemented his status as a rising star in the Democratic Party. A gifted orator and senior pastor at Atlanta’s historic Ebenezer Baptist Church, once led by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Warnock brings moral gravitas and a compelling personal story that resonates with both progressive and moderate voters alike.
While he hasn’t signaled any plans to run for president, some Democrats argue he has the charisma, coalition-building ability, and national profile to make a serious bid. He’s also proven he can win in tough environments, something the party may prize in 2028.
Warnock has already announced he’ll seek re-election to the Senate that year — a race that could be both politically pivotal and personally defining. Balancing a Senate campaign with a potential presidential run would be a challenge, but it hasn’t stopped speculation that he may be positioning himself for something bigger.
Ruben Gallego
Arizona Sen. Ruben Gallego is fueling speculation about a 2028 presidential run, thanks in part to a series of high-profile stops in key battleground states. In May, he traveled to Pennsylvania to rally Democrats and sketch out a path forward after the party’s 2024 losses — a message that appeared to resonate across both progressive and moderate wings.
“Then we need to actually follow through on the actions once we win,” he added during remarks at the annual National Action Network convention, where he sidestepped questions about his presidential ambitions.
Gallego has quickly emerged as a rising voice in the Democratic Party. A former Marine who served in Iraq, he leans into a working-class appeal while also positioning himself as a strong advocate for Latino voters — a key constituency Democrats are looking to rebuild support with. His hard-fought Senate victory last November in Arizona — a state that flipped to Trump — only added to his momentum.
Still, Gallego is downplaying the chatter. He told The Washington Post that a presidential run isn’t on his radar “right now.” But his expanding national profile — and early moves in battleground states — are keeping his name firmly in the 2028 conversation.
Rahm Emanuel
Rahm Emanuel has a lengthy political resume as a U.S. congressman and Chicago mayor, yet he’s rarely mentioned as a top Democratic presidential contender. Still, according to Politico’s Jonathan Martin, it’s no secret that Emanuel has his sights set on the White House.
“Just as striking is to talk to anybody in high-level Democratic politics who knows Emanuel — which is to say most everyone — and hear how matter of fact they are about the inevitability of his candidacy," Martin wrote.
Emanuel himself has added fuel to the speculation. In May, he told Crain’s Chicago Business that he’s weighing a run: “I’m looking at the (Democratic) field, and most importantly, what I have to contribute.”
Since Harris’s 2024 loss, Emanuel has been stepping up as a key voice for the party, even if it means clashing with its more progressive wing. At one point, he was even considered for the role of Democratic National Committee chair, and he's made a number of media appearances to further cement his presence.
Who's not running
Wes Moore
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore has long been seen as a rising Democratic star, so it raised some eyebrows when he flatly said he’s “not running” for president during an appearance on The View in May.
Still, the buzz hasn't died down. In May alone, Moore headlined the high-profile Blue Palmetto Dinner in South Carolina — a key early primary state — and gave a commencement speech at Pennsylvania’s Lincoln University, a historically Black college in another critical swing state. With his gubernatorial term ending in 2026, Moore could always seek reelection, but some in the party wonder if his sights are set higher.
