DENVER — Democrats are beginning to look ahead to the 2028 presidential race.
After strong midterm results, party leaders and emerging figures gathered in Denver for the “What’s Next” conference. The event gave several possible contenders a chance to try out their messages before activists, strategists and party officials. It also made clear that some are already ruling themselves out.
Less than a day after announcing a challenge to Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York, Sen. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland said he was no longer considering a presidential campaign.
Van Hollen said the Democrats’ expected majority of at least 55 seats would give the Senate a chance to respond to voters’ concerns.
Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey, meanwhile, said he is giving serious thought to another White House bid. For now, he said, his attention is on what he calls an “American renewal.”
Booker pointed to the costs of housing, health care and child care as hurdles keeping many people from getting ahead. He said the divide that worries him most is between Americans and the promise of the American dream, rather than simply between the political left and right.
Asked what he might change after his unsuccessful 2020 campaign, Booker said candidates should be genuine. He also cautioned that political hostility is driving Americans apart, arguing that people should see one another as fellow citizens rather than enemies.
Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who ran for president in 2020, said he had no announcement to make soon. He has not ruled out another campaign.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said he wants to be an active voice in the party’s efforts to improve its prospects. Whether he runs in 2028, he said, would be a decision he makes with his wife and children. He added that they would share their plans when the time came.
Sen. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan said she is seriously considering a presidential run, though she has not made a decision. She said she hopes to contribute to a new generation of leaders who approach the job differently and understand who they represent.
Slotkin also pointed to the many new Democrats elected in the midterms, saying they reflected that next generation.
For Sen. Ruben Gallego of Arizona, family will be a significant part of the decision. He said balancing a campaign with raising three young children would be difficult, particularly given that he does not come from substantial personal wealth. He would need to work out how to campaign while still being present as a father.
Sen. Raphael Warnock of Georgia has not said whether he will seek the nomination. In his conference remarks, he argued Democrats could assemble a coalition capable of winning across the country, pointing to victories in states from New Hampshire to Mississippi.
Rep. Ro Khanna of California said he is considering a presidential bid but has not decided. A progressive voice at a conference hosted by a centrist Democratic organization, Khanna said the response to his appearance had made him more open to the idea. He also said he was traveling around the country to see whether his message connected with voters.
Khanna expects candidates to begin entering the race next year. He said the country could be entering a period of generational change, with new leaders emerging on both sides of the aisle, and described the prospect as an opportunity to show the country’s range of talent.
With no obvious frontrunner, the Denver gathering offered an early glimpse of Democrats testing their messages and weighing a run for the party’s nomination.
