Democrats already lining up for 2028 presidential race in early voting states

Democrats already lining up for 2028 presidential race in early voting states

Voters in early presidential nominating States are used to seeing contenders months or years before most of the country; this comes as Democrats struggle to repair their brand, rebuild their message, fill a leadership vacuum after losing the White House and both chambers of Congress in 2024.

The first presidential primary votes won’t be cast for another two-and-a-half years. And yet, over the span of 10 days in July, three Democratic presidential prospects are scheduled to campaign in South Carolina.

Nearly half a dozen others have made recent pilgrimages to South Carolina, New Hampshire and Iowa — States that traditionally host the nation’s opening presidential nomination contests. Still other ambitious Democrats are having private conversations with officials on the ground there.

The voters in these States are used to seeing presidential contenders months or even years before most of the country, but the political jockeying in 2025 for the 2028 contest appears to be playing out earlier, with more frequency and with less pretense than ever before.

California Governor Gavin Newsom was referred to as a presidential candidate at one stop in his two-day South Carolina tour last week. He insisted he was there to strengthen the party ahead of the 2026 midterms.

Term-limited Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, who acknowledges he’s considering a 2028 bid, will spend two days touring South Carolina this week. He will focus on the State’s Black community while drawing an implicit contrast with Mr. Newsom on cultural issues.

Targeting black voters

California Congressman Ro Khanna, a progressive aligned with the Bernie Sanders’ wing of the Democratic Party, will target union members and Black voters when he’s in the State a few days later with the son of a civil rights leader.

And former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel is having private conversations with key South Carolina Democrats in which Mr. Emanuel indicated strong interest in a presidential run.

The unusually early jockeying is playing out as the Democratic Party struggles to repair its brand, rebuild its message and fill a leadership vacuum after losing the White House and both chambers of Congress in 2024.

Democrats are decidedly more optimistic about 2028.

Republicans will not have the advantage of incumbency in the next presidential contest; the Constitution bars U.S. President Donald Trump from seeking a third term. And the race for the Democratic nomination appears to be wide open, even as 2024 nominee Kamala Harris and running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, have left open the possibility of running again.

With no clear front-runner, some Democratic operatives believe upwards of 30 high-profile Democrats could ultimately enter the 2028 primary — more than the party’s overpacked 2020 field.

And as Democrats struggle to stop Mr. Trump’s power grabs in Washington, some report a real sense of urgency to get the 2028 process started.

Texas Rep. Jasmine Crockett, a rising Democratic star, said earlier this year that presidential prospects “need to be more visible earlier” as party officials look to take cues from a new generation of leaders. “What freaks most Democrats out is not really understanding who’s up next. Like, who’s got next?” she said. “And I think that that is really what people want most; they want their presidential nominee now.”

Mr. Beshear, Kentucky’s 47-year-old two-term Governor, is scheduled to make his first visit to South Carolina on political grounds on Wednesday and Thursday. He will promote his appeal among red-state moderates and Black voters.

Already this year, Mr. Walz of Minnesota and Maryland Governor Wes Moore have addressed South Carolina Democrats.

Biden Cabinet member Pete Buttigieg, a 2020 presidential candidate, hosted a town hall in Iowa in May. The month before, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker headlined a Democratic fundraiser in New Hampshire.

Others are moving more cautiously.

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro has avoided any early State travel this year, focusing instead on his 2026 reelection. Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer has also focused largely on her day job. Both would be top-tier presidential candidates should they decide to run.

Mr. Khanna has been working to build his national profile since before the last election with frequent trips to New Hampshire, among other early voting States.

The California congressman is scheduled to host two town-hall style meetings in South Carolina this weekend with Illinois Rep. Jonathan Jackson, the son of civil rights leader the Rev. Jesse Jackson.

Mr. Khanna casts his lower profile — at least compared to potential competitors such as Mr. Newsom and Mr. Shapiro — as an asset when asked about his party’s early 2028 field.

Mr. Newsom spent much of last year denying interest in a presidential run. But with his final term as Governor set to expire at the end of next year, his 2028 ambitions are starting to emerge more publicly. During his recent South Carolina tour, Mr. Newsom only smiled when voters shouted “2028!”.

Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar, a 2020 Democratic presidential candidate, campaigned on Friday in the State with Rep. Chris Pappas, who is expected to represent Democrats on the Senate ballot next fall. She insisted her only purpose was backing Mr. Pappas’ campaign.

It may be early, but some Democratic voters and local officials say they’re ready to get the cycle started.