Enough with this inauguration bullshit...who will the Dems run 2028

[Tripper11]

Come on, enough is enough, we need to start looking forward while still trying to make his life as miserable as possible until he dies, which I think will happen within his term.

Who will or should the Dems run against him(if he's still alive) or Vance if he's still relevant?

We have to create hope for our futures, for our kids futures, for everyone.

[Blue_Tires]

1. Newsom ticks all the boxes

And best of all he hates the fucking Trumpers almost as much as I do

[Polybius]

7. I was all-in for him

I just hope he can overcome the blame for the fires. Fair or not, it won't matter.

[ForgoTheConsequence]

9. Newsom would get steamrolled in every swing state.

Shapiro would be a better choice.

[dsp3000]

19. But hes a jew.

Not a problem with me. But all it takes is a few percentages of people with reservations about voting for someone that's an 'insert anything here' . Straight, white, Christian male. That's it.

[Blue_Tires]

20. I'm thinking even the stupid "battleground states"

Will be tired of Trumpism four years from now...

But that's just another reason to abolish the electoral college... I'm so fucking sick and tired of the same rural white folks from the same 3-4 states deciding the fate of the Free World.

Nevermind the fact that Shapiro couldn't even deliver his own goddamned state to Harris... So what good is he?

[ForgoTheConsequence]

22. As someone who lives in flyover country.

His reputation as a "California liberal" would not play well, anywhere. He doesn't even have a 50% approval rating in his own state.

[Blue_Tires]

31. And those same white folks in your state don't see Donnie as a "coastal elite"?

Help me understand the disconnect...

[Bettie]

39. Simply put: he hates the same people

they hate.

He wants to harm the same people they want to see harm come to.

He gave them explicit permission to be the worst versions of themselves, proudly, without shame.

I am amazed at how terrible the people I live among CHOOSE to be now. People who I thought were nice have turned out to be monsters once they were given permission to drop the facade of politeness.

[Blue_Tires]

67. Good point...

[pinkstarburst]

118. I'm not convinced on Shapiro

If he's so great, why wasn't he more help to Harris in Pennsylvania?

[blueknight73]

47. No

I love him, but he can't win

[Blue_Tires]

68. Donnie has now won twice and he didn't deserve either time

So don't ever tell me so-and-so "can't win"... Anybody can win with the proper forces behind them.

[blueknight73]

93. But he DID win

Rather he deserved it or not. And we run a woman, they will win again

[Dorian Gray]

108. Newsome is divisive

Personally, I find him skeevy. (And I'm definitely a democratic voter.). Imagine how people on the fence would feel?

To me, the answer is obvious: Jared Polis or Wes Moore. But their names aren't thrown around in this thread at all. Which is disappointing.

[DeepWinter]

111. Newsome

thrives in California, but he would struggle hard in the majority of other states. The right would love to see Newsome run. Ideal opponent for them.

[OLDMDDEM]

2. Gov Newsome or Gov Shapiro

[Ocelot II]

3. How the hell can we possibly know at this point?

The political climate in two years, let alone four, will be vastly different, and it's impossible to know now who would be a viable candidate in 2028. Speculation is useless now. Trump might even be dead, and running against Vance would require a much different approach, which we can't predict yet.

[Tripper11]

8. I get that, but....

On this day, with all the various posts, I just wanted to create a little hopeful thread to try and see if there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

[Prof. Toru Tanaka]

106. Very good point.

Right now, the Dems need to focus on getting the House back in 2026.

[Dulcinea]

115. House and Senate both.

I agree that a lot of people will be tired of his act in 2 years. It can be done.

[qazplm135]

4. Straight white dude

Not too old, good looking, moderate.

Would I prefer a woman, of color, who's a liberal? Yep.

But sadly, right now we live in a country where that person can't win the presidency.

And we can't let them win again. So probably Shapiro or maybe Newsome if he overcomes blame for the fires.

[LSparkle]

27. The fires were a natural disaster ... and Newsom was not W

Like after Katrina. He wants to investigate the “dry” hydrants and other issues that made L.A. less prepared than optimal but I think if he fights The Thing for 4 years as he has of late, he’ll be in a good position to run if he wants.

[qazplm135]

32. Whether or not

You or I blame him, or he should or should not be blamed won't matter if enough people blame him anyways which is yet TBD.

It's going to be a thing he has to navigate.

[SomewhereInTheMiddle]

113. I honestly don't see most people outside of LA remembering today's fires four years from now.

People have short memories and care more about what happens in 2027 rather than 2024/5.

[qazplm135]

120. I think

Anxiety is going to be high in 28 so folks are going to be leery of risk or perceived risk

[hamsterjill]

46. I am relooking at Tim Kaine after last week's hearing.

n/t

[qazplm135]

74. Zero charisma

It's going to have to be someone with a high charisma level.

I don't dislike Kaine, but charisma is not something he's oozing with.

[Midwestern Democrat]

103. Kaine was a zero on the campaign trail as the VP nominee in '16 and his performance in the debate against Pence

was just awful.

[Polybius]

88. I don't see it

As unfair as it is, he's got that super-Irish red-faced look and anti-Irish stereotypes about drinking are sadly still out there. While I don't believe it, we can't even lose 3% in a close race. There are those that didn't even vote for Harris because she's a woman.

[helpisontheway]

112. Zzzzzz...nt

[ColinC]

5. Julie Su

Or somebody with an equally pro labor/ pro working class background. If the Democratic party is not 1000% running on workers rights, universal healthcare and education, it's over.

We need a pro worker political revolution. Or say bye bye to America

[Ocelot II]

40. Who? She'd better figure out how to get some national name recognition very soon.

[ColinC]

55. Secretary Of Labor

With the right message, the recognition will come next.

[Bettie]

41. We can't have women anymore

I say this as a woman. The US hates women even more than it does POC. Misogyny is stronger than almost anything else, it seems. The US will never elect a woman as president.

Oh, and that assumes that A. we will have elections and B. that women still have the right to vote.

[ColinC]

53. I very strongly disagree

It isnt about women running. It is about having a message that resonates with the vast majority of people that can counter the right wing national populism

A strong pro worker message will fit the bill. And the messenger doesn't really matter too much.

Although Su would be a credible one.

[qazplm135]

75. So misogyny doesn't exist?

We ran two very different women. With different politics. Same result.

I'm not going to pretend Misogyny was the only reason, but I'm not also going to pretend it was a real part of the reason why so many voters wouldn't vote for her.

Many voters listed it as a "concern " I don't think that changes because a female candidate talks more about labor issues.

[ColinC]

82. Misogyny exists. But the way around it is by running on a message of change, or anti establishment message.

Not by catering to the status quo. Racism also exists but we saw how Obama was able to win despite it.

We are not going to win against bigotry by bending to it. We can only do it by constantly challenging it.

[qazplm135]

97. No one said anything about bending

And the idea that Harris was "establishment" is silly.

We had the most progressive presidency followed by the most progressive candidate ever

[ColinC]

98. Nobody said anything about bending

Just like nobody said anything about misogyny not existing

Alas refusing to run female candidates because of misogyny would be the very definition of "bending" to misogyny.

[qazplm135]

99. No

It's a recognition that winning trump's all right now.

Running a woman just so we "don't bend" is the kind of stuff that we get mocked for by folks in the middle.

[dsp3000]

121. get out of your bubble and into the mindspace of those who didnt vote for harris because she was either a black or woman

all it takes is a few percentage points in a few states.

I personally knew otherwise rank and file democrats who wouldn't even vote for obama because he was black.

Now add a woman? a woman with a *gasp* ORIENTAL NAME!!!!



Straight, white, male, christian. it ends there.

[betsuni]

122. Democrats do have a strong pro worker message. They do NOT ignore the working class. Enough is enough.

[dsp3000]

6. Straight white dude. No ifs and or buts about that requirement

Newsome might be too much of a pretty boy though.

[LuvLoogie]

13. Ax and Jaz

Cortez and Crockett

[blueknight73]

48. No

and no

[LuvLoogie]

71. Aw. It's OK.

[yellowdogintexas]

104. and no Ms Crockett is so excellent where she is that I think we need to keep her there for a while

She is very valuable in The House. So if she has presidential ambitions I think she is savvy enough to wait a while; not 2028
If she runs as VP she has to give up her seat and I can't see her doing that anytime soon,

[Comrade Citizen]

83. My dream ticket

Two wonderful stateswomen. I have no faith that the American voter would support them.

[ForgoTheConsequence]

10. Looking forward?

We need to focus on ensuring we have a Democracy in 4 years. That starts NOW.

[LuvLoogie]

17. Agree. It starts with Ax and Jaz.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

11. Oh, dear lord.

Every four years people here predict, or try to predict, who will be running four years from now. Well, three plus to be technical. Still.

And for what it's worth, who is Julie Su? No one without broad name recognition should be even remotely considered. Frankly, Harris's essential problem was that she was essentially invisible until Biden stepped down, and there just wasn't enough time for her campaign.

[DemocracyWorks]

38. I mean she ran in 20 and look how that turned out

[Hassler]

12. Wonderbread guy from the "heartland."

[piddyprints]

14. Straight white man.

Last edited Mon Jan 20, 2025, 09:50 PM - Edit history (1)

Between 35 and 65. We have proven in two elections that we are not going to elect a woman president, at least not in my lifetime. I would love to see Buttigieg, but we're likely not ready to elect a gay man. Age is a problem only with our candidates. Old men can run and win if they're republicans, but we need someone youthful. Oh, and they must be squeaky clean... just another double standard.

[LoisB]

44. I would vote for Pete in a heartbeat but I think you're right.

[kelly1mm]

57. Needs to be 35 at the time of swearing in to be President. nt

[piddyprints]

89. Right.

I fat-fingered and didn’t catch it.

[MichMan]

60. Explain how someone 25 years old could possibly be a candidate for president?

Given that the minimum age is 35.

[emulatorloo]

78. Rec n/t

[piddyprints]

90. I didn't catch my typo.

Still bleary-eyed from the nightmare.

[Polybius]

16. Someone who will not underestimate Vance and will not take winning for granted

And I don't want to get yelled at again for calling out overconfidence like I did from August to November.

[In It to Win It]

18. Josh Shapiro. He gives me the warm and fuzzies.

[comradebillyboy]

61. I like Josh but he won't get the Muslim/Arab vote, the

"pro-Palestinian" vote or the vote of any of the myriad antisemites in America.

[0rganism]

21. Very optimistic of you to believe we'll have meaningful elections in 4 years

To address the question directly, first off we have no idea who among the "leading" Democrats will still be alive or viable in 2028. New Democratic leaders may well arise before then, and I sincerely hope they do. We have no idea what the GOP slate will look like and what atrocities they will have perpetrated in the meantime. There's still the 2026 midterms to go through.

In short, too soon to even speculate at this point.

[JustAnotherGen]

23. I'd like Harris to run again

She might not receive the nomination - but Sanders keeps running and probably will again if he's alive. So she can too.

Mark Cuban - but he's said he won't.

Governor Wes Moore.

Booker - he's my Senator and I'm terribly upset he isn't running for Governor. He'd smash Ciatarrelli (Shit-arelli) to pieces.

Shapiro.

Newsom.

I'm turning 52 next month - and don't believe I will see a woman President in my lifetime. I give Harris grace because she's the only woman to serve as VP. But other than that?

No women.

All of that said - I don't think it will be a real election. I think Vance, Trump Jr, or Jared gets installed in 2028.

I'd lean towards Jr because he's just as stupid and drugged up as The Felon.

[dsc]

24. There have been 14 nominations since I was born

the following were open 72, 76, 84, 88, 92, 00, 04, 08, 16, 20, Now some of those were less open than others. 84 was Mondale's to lose, 00 Gore's. The fact is no one saw Carter coming in 76, Clinton in 92, or Obama in 08. Biden came from behind to win in 20. Frankly I have no idea who will be our nominee this time. About half the time we nominate someone no one had really heard of a few years before.

[Polybius]

85. I kinda call '80 open too

Kennedy won primaries and was quite strong.

[gulliver]

25. Someone who goes back to the Dem fundamentals I hope

We need to get ourselves in shape.

We need to win back the trust of the core dem working and middle-class constituencies, some of whom we lost this election. We need to be sensible, mainstream, common sense, and intelligent. Passion should be viewed with suspicion. It's too easy to fake, too easy to lose yourself and your right mind to. We need people who inspire confidence. Not yet sure who that is. We have a pretty good bench.

[BannonsLiver]

26. There's going to be a lot of good candidates.

[totodeinhere]

28. I would rather concentrate on the 2026 midterms.

We desperately need to get control of Congress back. Then after that happens I would be ready to contemplate the 2028 presidential election but not now.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

50. This 👆

One step at a time folks. First things first.

[Polybius]

86. Same

What states do you think we can pick up in '26?

[dutch777]

91. Precisely. If we don't take the House back, our 2028 Prez hopes are more difficult. Senate too please!

We can certainly think and pay attention to potential candidates but we need to right the legislative and policy proposal side and prove we have a platform that will SUCCESSFULLY support our Prez candidate.

[everyonematters]

29. My favorites are Whitmer and Shapiro.

Both of them would not only make good candidates, good executives, but also be good leaders of the party.

[GoCubsGo]

30. Whoever wins the primary.

We don't anoint our candidates.

[jalan48]

33. My heart's with AOC but not realistic.

[Bettie]

42. She's great, but even here, she has a large cohort

who absolutely hate her.

[Oldvet]

34. Roy Cooper

Traditional Democrat fundamentals, and could win.

[Bettie]

43. Is he straight, white, somewhat conservative, and Christian?

Because those are the things we'll have to have.

The somewhat conservative is to get through the primary....the 'centrists' don't like liberals.

[JanMichael]

62. Love Roy but he will be over 70 in 4 years.

I think I heard him say that himself. Too old.

That said he has NEVER lost an election.

[Midwestern Democrat]

95. Nominating a 71 year old is not super-optimal but it's reasonable, IMO.

[mentalsolstice]

35. I'd like our party to put Jason Carter out there more!

Throw some responsibilities his way and let him run with it. I don’t know how we can prop him up in four years, but I’ve been so impressed by him the past couple of years. Hey, his grandfather was just a simple peanut farmer and governor from GA. Why not?

[comradebillyboy]

64. Who is Jason Carter?

[mentalsolstice]

80. Jimmy Carter's grandson. Duh! nt

[ck4829]

36. Who is running is less important than making sure the theme/platform is NOT "Saving Trump supporters from their messes"

Because we'll do the deja vu dance again.

[Buckeyeblue]

37. Andy Beshear of KY

2 term governor. Seems to have the secret sauce for talking to rural Kentuckians.

And Governor Whitmer of Michigan might be a good running mate.

But we will put a lot of miles on the Chevy between now and then. But I like the idea of starting early.

[blueknight73]

49. I love Andy

I say Roy Cooper and Andy

[SoFlaBro]

70. This is the answer right fucking HERE! Andy Beshear ticks all the boxes & motherfucking ready for the national spotlight

[Ars Longa]

84. Beshear/Whitmer is the only ticket

that seems (to me), to be able to thread the electoral needle
the way this crazy country is right now.

'Sad to say, Too much misogyny in this country to put a a female at the
top of the ticket (VP OK though).

I also like Shapiro-popular in PA but, hard to say how he translates nationally.

Newsome, from CA, I have a hard time seeing him appealing to the MidWest
and south. (And there is the Wildfire thing).

Others like Mark Cuban might cut-through in ways our regular Pols don't/can't.

I would like to see all/any, of the above get in the race right away and pound-away at
Trump/MAGA in a series of on-going townhalls/forums.

[Buckeyeblue]

109. Mark Cuban would be interesting

He's always seemed to protect his family's privacy so I don't know that he'd be able to do that and run for president.

[Midwestern Democrat]

94. I think he could win nationally but I don't harbor any fantasies that it's 1992 and a Bill Clinton "New South" Democrat

type can win several Southern states. My guess is Beshear MIGHT be able to win Georgia and North Carolina and nothing else in the South except Virginia. I don't think he would carry his own home state of Kentucky - in fact, it's questionable whether he could even win a US Senate seat - as both red states and blue states seem more willing to cross party lines in electing Governors than they are for federal offices.

[Ars Longa]

96. Well, winning GA & NC would be a LOT better than how

we did in 2024!

As i said, a good proportion of the country seems to be flat-out CRAZY right now,
and this moment is way early regarding 2028.
Yeah, It's hard to see who will emerge for us, but (to me) Beshear/Whitmer seemed
to be the best fit for what's going on. Maybe alternately, Shapiro/Whitmer!

[Buckeyeblue]

110. If he wins both GA and NC he really has won the southern states that matter

TX and FL are probably out of reach.

[Sailingfish]

45. Wouldn't the better question be... what should the platform be in 2028 ?

Work out what kind of a platform to run on and see who is the best person to promote that platform. What should that platform be ? Well, you have a new forum and a lot of time to hash that out and put your ideas out there. What to leave in. What to leave out. What needs to change. What needs to stay the same. A good start might be meeting more of the people where they are, rather than where many in the Party think they should be. Push the envelope too far on some things and you lose people. Don't push it far enough on other things and you lose people. Find the right balance - stripped of all dogmatic subjective idealism - that gets you the most votes.

[comradebillyboy]

65. I don't think the platform really matters to

the vast majority of voters. It's just something to use against us.

[Sailingfish]

79. I think a lot of people still care about bread and butter stuff on the economy.

Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, ACA expansion, SSI, disability and a lot of other economic stuff that is important in people's lives. Especially if they don't have a lot. New Deal kind of things. Maybe go a lot harder on that stuff. Obviously, I don't mean cutting them like the right is yammering about. There were some good bills out there that could of improved a lot but they never got much traction. There is a ton of waste in the safety net, but it's not on the receiving side. It's on the administrative side. The red tape, guidelines, means tests, and the rest of the hoops that people have to deal with is pathetic. It's also an enormous expense, bloated, and infested with unnecessary bureaucracy that isn't needed to administer the programs. Just rambling here...

[VMA131Marine]

51. Vance could be President by 2028

I’d almost say it’s likely.

But in the end it will probably come down to the state of the economy and what other disasters are facing the country at the time of the election. We haven’t had a Republican leave the country in good shape at the end of their term in what seems like forever. Maybe Eisenhower was the last one.

[Dan]

52. I am sorry to say this,, but apparently America likes to be entertained so....

We need someone from television land that was entertaining and appealing to middle America.

Archie Bunker?

[bayberry]

81. The Rock

He has charisma and popularity, could be motivated to enter politics in reaction to tRump? Could appeal to enough independents and some crossover republicans.

[kelly1mm]

54. There will no longer be elections if President Trump was allowed to take office, or so I was told. nt

[stillcool]

56. I'm sticking with the elections in my state

not even going to think about anywhere else. That is where my hope lies.

[MontanaFarmer]

58. There will be excellent choices in the primary.

And people will be positioning themselves prior to the midterms so it is not too soon to think about it. Whitmer, Shapiro, Moore, warnock, beshear, and Chris Murphy as a dark horse.

[JanMichael]

59. I have a feeling that it will be someone that is not obvious now.

Things will evolve quickly over the next two then four years.

[Mountainguy]

63. Newsome will have support

but I don't think he is the guy.

Beshear, Cooper, Shapiro, Whitmer

Those are my early favorites, but of course somebody else could present themselves.

[WarGamer]

66. wew ill run whoever WINS the primary

We're not going to name some "Great Hope" 4 years in advance...

A vigorous primary so we can weed out those who might not be a good General candidate...

[alarimer]

69. It won't matter.

There should be a full-throated support for progressive (and, thus, American) values.

But you just know it will some pasty white DINO man.

When it SHOULD be Wes Moore. Great story, good guy. Should bring back all the votes we lost this time around. (I have no idea if he even wants to).

[La Coliniere]

72. It will most likely be the loudest and most aggressive

Governor or Senator challenging and condemning the orange felon’s misdeeds and fuck-ups throughout these miserable next four years. Don’t know who that is at this point in time. Too early to tell but someone will rise to the top. God, I do hope so.

[Thunderbeast]

73. The campaign should be based on honesty, integrity, and justice....

....and then my idiot fellow Americans will clobber us again.

I have lost ALL faith in the racists, felons, misogynists, that I share this beautiful country with. They are children who refuse to live in a fact-based world. They would rather live in the sugar high of their bubble.

Pick whoever the f@#k you want. It won't matter.

The ship has sailed and there is no bringing back these troglidiyes that operate using their primitive brain stems to navigate their worlds.

[Arazi]

76. JB Pritzker, a rich white guy who can actually govern

[TrueBlue65]

116. I love JB

He's my governor and a very good one. I just don't know that running an (actual) billionaire is the right way to go for Dems. If JB starts to look slimmer, we'll know he's running.

[emulatorloo]

77. Dunno, maybe time to start focusing on the Midterms, not 2028.

JMHO but voters will most likely be sick of Trump’s bullshit by then, just like they were during his first term as President.

[SleeplessinSoCal]

87. Just saw this on Google Maps

This was chosen for viewing purposes. Don't think he'll be talking much about the crowd size this time.

What language is that under Capital One?

[-misanthroptimist]

92. I mean...I'll do it...if no one else wants to.

I'm kidding, but I'm better than the current WH occupant. No felony convictions...and I can speak in complete sentences.

[question everything]

100. First, 2026 Midterms . We have to stop as many of his "programs" as we can

[Hope22]

101. We are getting ahead of our skies.

Why don’t we try to get a campaign going to actually reach the Dems we have and get them to hear our concerns. Also I think we need to force the campaign finance issue. This last election cycle was completely out of control and I am still getting donation requests after such a sad and confusing outcome. I’m not a fan of being told that we are in grave peril over and over and then post election being left to wonder if we are and what can be done.

[delisen]

102. There is no magical savior riding in to rescue us.

Spending precious time and energy now choosing preferred candidates for president in 2028 isn’t giving hope to our children. It is giving false hope.

[bob4460]

105. Andy Beshear

[Dorian Gray]

107. The two who I think should duke it out:

Jared Polis and Wes Moore.

VP Gretchen Whitmer

[helpisontheway]

114. We don't have a well known star in our party that does not have significant issues

to overcome. I love Wes Moore but they destroy him because he is black. I don’t think another black person will win in my lifetime. MAGA has expanded and is not adding our “base” (Hispanics, working class,etc). We can’t win if they keep that chunk of our base. I hope MAGA will weaken (unlikely to ever go away) once Trump is gone. Doubt it because they are batshit crazy.

[SKKY]

117. Hakeem Jeffries, for me right now, is the best choice...

...We know Vance is going to run, pretty much uncontested, so we need someone who is a clear and stark contrast to him. Right now, in my mind, that's Jeffries. But, who knows what could happen and who could emerge as a candidate? I know we have a much deeper bench than the other side. Having said that, and I know some of you will curb-stomp me for saying this, it will almost assuredly have to be a male candidate. Biden won the Hispanic vote by 30+%, and Harris won it by 5%. Misogyny among Hispanic males is real (I see it every day); whether we like it or not, we need to think about it. Some of the others, whom I expect will be big players in the next 4 years either as POTUS or VPOTUS...

Newsome
Whitmer
Shapiro
Beshear
Gallego
McMorrow
AOC
Castro
Pritzker
Khanna

[mvd]

119. I completely agree

Idiot can’t run again anyway so let’s always try to steal the news cycle. I don’t have a favorite yet but would love a very open primary with many running. AOC, Shapiro, Newsom, Cooper, Whitmer, and maybe Harris could be just some running.

[CTyankee]

123. Nobody could run against him because HE can't run. Two terms and that's it!

I can only hope there will emerge from amongst our highly capable Dems a wonderful candidate. I hope she's a woman. We need a great woman who can take over the reins of leadership and truly lead us. If it is Kamala, I will rejoice and vote for her. But if a new leader emerges from our great Democratic Party, I will happily support and vote for her. It might be my last vote as I am 85 now.