Just over four months into President Donald Trump’s return to the White House, the Democrats are already sniffing around for their 2028 champion. It’s almost endearing how quickly they’ve dusted themselves off after the November 2024 setbacks, hitting the early-voting states with a vigor that suggests they’ve learned a hard lesson about sitting idle. Turns out, actions—or in their case, inaction—have consequences.
Fox News reported that across key states like South Carolina, New Hampshire, and Iowa, several Democratic hopefuls are already making early moves. These efforts reflect a push to rebuild momentum and reenergize a base that has grown frustrated by recent Republican gains among Black, Hispanic, and younger voters.
Let’s start with the timeline of this quiet scramble. Late last month, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker delivered a keynote at a major state party fundraiser in New Hampshire, a state with a century-long tradition of hosting the first presidential primary.
Pritzker, a vocal critic of Trump, has been busy trying to “Trump-proof” his state, as he put it, with a fiery, “You come for my people, you come through me.” Admirable passion, sure, but one wonders if this tough talk will resonate beyond Illinois when 2028 rolls around—or if it’s just posturing for a national stage.
On May 13, 2025, former U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg headlined a veterans’ town hall in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, a state that once kicked off both parties’ nominating calendars before the DNC shuffled things around. His appearance has sparked chatter about a potential run, though one might ask if his progressive track record will play well in the heartland. It’s a gamble and not a small one.
This upcoming weekend, both Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, the 2024 Democratic VP nominee, and Maryland Gov. Wes Moore are set to appear in South Carolina, the DNC’s designated lead-off primary state for 2024. Moore insists he’s “not running,” as he told “The View,” but showing up in a key state like this raises eyebrows. If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, well, you know the rest.
Two weeks after the South Carolina events, Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, who made a presidential bid in 2020, will headline a major Democratic dinner in New Hampshire. Her persistence is notable, but whether she can break through a crowded field remains a question for a party still licking its wounds.
Former Vice President Kamala Harris, meanwhile, is keeping busy with high-profile fundraisers, including a recent one in New York City and another planned in San Francisco. She’s weighing a 2026 run for California governor to succeed term-limited Gov. Gavin Newsom, with a decision expected by the end of summer 2025, per a source in her orbit. Her name recognition makes her an early polling frontrunner for 2028, but splitting focus between state and national ambitions could trip her up.
Then there’s Newsom himself, who’s moderated his tone lately, even working with Trump on California wildfire issues in January 2025 and inviting Trump allies like Charlie Kirk to his podcast. Term-limited and out of office by the end of 2026, he’s got the freedom to pivot nationally, but one wonders if this newfound centrism is genuine or just a calculated rebrand.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Bernie Sanders have been co-headlining rallies nationwide, including a “Fighting Oligarchy” tour stop in Bakersfield, California, on April 15, 2025. Their progressive agenda fires up a certain crowd, but in a country trending right, it’s hard to see this duo swaying the moderates needed for a general election.
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear recently mused about a presidential run, saying, “If I’m somebody that can bring this nation together... It’s something I’ll consider.” It’s a noble sentiment, but uniting a fractured nation is easier said than done, especially when your party’s base is as angry as the Democrats’ seems to be right now.
Other names like Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who sparred with Trump over COVID-19 aid in 2020, and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, who swung through New Hampshire before the 2024 election, are also in the mix.
Whitmer, term-limited by 2026, and Shapiro, up for re-election that year, carry baggage from recent losses in their states—hardly a ringing endorsement for national aspirations.
Longtime Democratic strategist Chris Moyer captured the mood, noting, “There was a sense of hopelessness earlier this year among Democrats... thinking about a presidential race is a way to get some hope back.” It’s a fair point, but hope alone doesn’t win elections; strategy and voter connection do, areas where the party has stumbled lately.
Moyer also predicted, “The race is wide open, and it won’t be long before we see clear maneuvering.” He’s likely right, with an array of figures from Sen. Raphael Warnock of Georgia to sports commentator Stephen A. Smith generating buzz, though one has to wonder if this crowded field will lead to unity or just more infighting.
