21 Democrats who may try to succeed Trump in the 2028 presidential election

It has been conscionable implicit 4 months since President Donald Trump returned to powerfulness successful the White House, and the precise aboriginal moves successful the 2028 statesmanlike contention are already underway by immoderate Democrats with apt nationalist ambitions.

This upcoming weekend, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, who was the Democrats' 2024 vice statesmanlike nominee, and Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, who says helium is not laying the groundwork for a 2028 statesmanlike run, volition marque abstracted appearances successful South Carolina, the authorities the Democratic National Committee anointed to clasp the lead-off superior successful their 2024 nominating calendar.

Two weeks later, Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, who ran for the White House successful 2020, volition header a large Democratic authorities enactment meal successful New Hampshire, which for a period has held the archetypal statesmanlike primary.

Two weeks ago, 2020 Democratic statesmanlike campaigner Pete Buttigieg, who aboriginal served arsenic Transportation caput successful erstwhile President Joe Biden's administration, headlined a municipality hallway with veterans and subject families successful Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

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Former U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg headlines a veterans' municipality hallway successful Cedar Rapids, Iowa, connected May 13, 2025. Buttigieg's quality sparked speculation helium whitethorn marque different statesmanlike tally successful 2028. (Fox News - Paul Steinhauser)

Iowa's caucuses for fractional a period kicked disconnected some large governmental parties' statesmanlike nominating calendars until the DNC demoted the Hawkeye State connected their 2024 schedule.

Another imaginable contender, two-term Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, precocious past month, gave the keynote code astatine a large authorities enactment fundraising gala successful New Hampshire.

Also making sound is two-term Democratic Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, who said precocious helium would see moving for president if helium felt helium could successfully unite the country.

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Additionally, progressive firebrand Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York grabbed plentifulness of attraction the past mates of months, co-headlining a slew of ample rallies crossed the state with longtime progressive champion Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, which sparked plentifulness of 2028 speculation.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Bernie Sanders enactment successful a halt connected the "Fighting Oligarchy" circuit astatine the Dignity Health Arena Theater successful Bakersfield, California, connected April 15, 2025. (REUTERS/Aude Guerrucci)

The Democratic Party has been successful the governmental wilderness since past November's predetermination setbacks, erstwhile Republicans won backmost power of the White House and the Senate and defended their fragile House majority. Republicans additionally made gains among Black and Hispanic voters arsenic good arsenic younger voters, each accepted members of the Democratic Party's base.

Since Trump's instrumentality to power, an progressively aggravated and energized basal of Democrats has been pushing for enactment leaders to instrumentality a stronger basal successful pushing backmost against the president's sweeping and arguable docket during the opening months of his 2nd administration.

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Democrats are not lone looking up to adjacent year's midterms, erstwhile they anticipation to marque ballot container gains, but besides to the adjacent statesmanlike race.

"There was a consciousness of hopelessness earlier this twelvemonth among Democrats, arsenic Trump came successful with his wrecking ball, and it seemed similar determination was thing but futile absorption to him," longtime Democratic strategist Chris Moyer told Fox News. "So reasoning astir a statesmanlike contention with imaginable candidates is simply a mode to get immoderate anticipation backmost and look towards a aboriginal that doesn't see Trump."

Moyer, a seasoned of a fistful of Democratic statesmanlike campaigns, said the contention is "wide open, and it won’t beryllium agelong earlier we spot wide maneuvering from a litany of candidates."

The results of the 2026 midterm elections volition person a large interaction connected the signifier of the adjacent White House race. 

For now, however, present are 20 Democrats considered imaginable statesmanlike contenders to ticker connected the roadworthy to 2028.

Kamala Harris

Former Vice President Kamala Harris speaks astatine the Leading Women Defined Summit astatine the Ritz-Carlton connected Thursday, April 3, 2025 successful Dana Point, California. (Juliana Yamada /Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

After lying debased erstwhile the Biden medication came to a close, erstwhile Vice President Kamala Harris has picked up the governmental gait of late, including headlining a caller large DNC fundraiser successful New York City, with different successful San Francisco adjacent week.

Among her run options that she is weighing is simply a 2026 tally for the unfastened governor's spot successful her location authorities of California and different bid successful 2028 for the White House.

A root successful the erstwhile vice president's governmental orbit confirmed to Fox News Digital 2 months agone that Harris had told allies she would determine by the extremity of summertime connected whether to motorboat a 2026 gubernatorial campaign.

Harris served arsenic San Francisco territory attorney, California lawyer wide and represented the Golden State successful the U.S. Senate earlier joining Biden's 2020 summons and winning that predetermination arsenic vice president.

Additionally, Harris would beryllium considered the wide frontrunner for politician successful heavy bluish California successful the contention to win term-limited Democrat Gov. Gavin Newsom.

However, aboriginal polling successful the 2028 Democratic information contention indicates that Harris would beryllium the frontrunner, acknowledgment successful portion to her sanction designation wrong her party.

While determination are plentifulness of voices wrong the enactment who would similar to determination connected from the Biden/Harris epoch pursuing Trump's sweeping victory, and determination is small past of Democrats yearning for past defeated statesmanlike nominees, Trump has re-written the rules erstwhile it comes to defeated White House contenders making different run. 

Potential buyers' remorse of a 2nd Trump medication could boost the 60-year-old Harris successful the years to come.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez speaks astatine a rally successful Nampa, Idaho. (Fox News )

The progressive "rock star" and best-known lawmaker among the alleged "Squad" of divers House Democrats successful October turned 35, the minimum property to tally for president.

Some Democrats reason that a riveting messenger with prima powerfulness is needed arsenic the party's adjacent nominee, and Ocasio-Cortez is guaranteed to drawback plentifulness of attraction if she yet decides to run.

There is besides speculation the four-term national lawmaker from New York City whitethorn superior situation Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York erstwhile helium is up for re-election successful 2028.

Gov. Gavin Newsom of California 

Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks with voters during a halt astatine a road remainder country successful Hooksett, New Hampshire, connected July 8, 2024. (Fox News — Paul Steinhauser)

California Gov. Gavin Newsom was a apical surrogate for Biden during the president's re-election bid. With the blessing of the White House, the two-term California politician debated then-Republican statesmanlike campaigner and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis past twelvemonth connected Fox News. 

Newsom's travels connected behalf of Biden brought him to New Hampshire and South Carolina, 2 important aboriginal voting states connected the Democratic Party's nominating calendar.

After Harris, his person and chap Californian, replaced Biden atop the Democrats' 2024 ticket, the governor, aft a pause, continued his efforts to support Trump from returning to the White House.

While Newsom and California's Democrat-dominated legislature took enactment to "Trump-proof" the Golden State, the politician has besides worked with Trump connected cardinal matters, including January's wildfires that devastated parts of metropolitan Los Angeles.

Newsom besides appears to person moderated connected immoderate issues and invited well-known Trump allies Charlie Kirk and Steve Bannon connected his play podcast.

The 57-year-old Newsom, who is term-limited, completes his duties successful Sacramento astatine the extremity of adjacent year, close astir the clip the 2028 statesmanlike predetermination volition commencement to vigor up.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker of Illinois

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker is interviewed by Fox News Digital astatine the Democratic National Convention connected Aug. 22, 2024 successful Chicago. (Fox News — Paul Steinhauser)

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker has go a starring dependable successful the Democrats' absorption to Trump and has taken steps to Trump-proof his solidly bluish state.

"You travel for my people, you travel done me," Pritzker told reporters of his efforts to support Illinois.

Pritzker was besides a high-profile surrogate connected behalf of Biden and past Harris during the 2024 cycle. Those efforts brought Pritzker to Nevada, a wide predetermination battleground authorities and an early-voting Democratic statesmanlike superior state, and New Hampshire.

Additionally, the governor's caller travel to New Hampshire sparked much 2028 buzz.

However, earlier helium makes immoderate determination astir 2028, the 60-year-old politician indispensable determine whether helium volition tally successful 2026 for a 3rd word steering Illinois.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer campaigns connected behalf of then-presumptive Democratic statesmanlike nominee Vice President Kamala Harris astatine a location enactment successful Durham, New Hampshire, connected July 25, 2024. (Fox News — Paul Steinhauser)

Two-term Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer grabbed plentifulness of attraction and became a Democratic Party rising prima successful 2020 erstwhile she feuded with Trump implicit COVID-19 national assistance and survived a foiled kidnapping attempt.

Trump, astatine the time, called her "that pistillate from Michigan."

Along with Newsom and Pritzker, Whitmer's sanction was floated arsenic a imaginable replacement for Biden pursuing his disastrous statement show against Trump successful precocious June, earlier the president endorsed Harris, and the enactment instantly coalesced astir the vice president.

Whitmer was a starring surrogate for Biden and past for Harris and made a large content connected Democratic activists during a halt this summertime successful New Hampshire connected behalf of Harris.

However, Whitmer was criticized by immoderate successful her enactment for appearing to cozy up to Trump during a White House sojourn earlier this spring.

The 53-year-old politician is term-limited and volition permission bureau aft the extremity of adjacent year.

Gov. Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro speaks earlier Democratic statesmanlike nominee Vice President Kamala Harris and her moving mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, during a run lawsuit successful Philadelphia connected Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Joe Lamberti)

Gov. Josh Shapiro, the 51-year-old first-term politician of Pennsylvania, was connected Harris' short-list for vice statesmanlike nominee.

Even though the vice president named Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz arsenic her moving mate, Shapiro remained a apical surrogate connected behalf of his party's 2024 nationalist ticket. 

However, his two-day plaything successful New Hampshire during the last afloat week up of Election Day did rise immoderate eyebrows and 2028 speculation.

After Harris mislaid battleground Pennsylvania to Trump, determination was plentifulness of speech wrong the enactment that Harris had made the incorrect prime for her moving mate.

Shapiro, who has a way grounds of taking connected the archetypal Trump medication arsenic Pennsylvania lawyer general, is expected to play a akin relation with Trump backmost successful the White House.

The politician volition beryllium up for re-election successful 2026.

Gov. Wes Moore of Maryland

Gov. Wes Moore of Maryland speaks with the New Hampshire delegation astatine the Democratic National Convention successful Chicago connected Aug. 22, 2024. (Fox News — Paul Steinhauser)

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore is considered by galore to beryllium different Democratic Party rising star.

The 46-year-old Army veteran, who is besides a Rhodes Scholar and CEO of the charitable enactment the Robin Hood Foundation during the coronavirus pandemic, was elected 2 years ago.

Even though Moore said successful a caller interrogation connected "The View" that helium is "not running" successful 2028, speculation persists, fueled successful portion due to the fact that of his upcoming halt successful South Carolina.

Moore volition beryllium up for re-election successful 2026. 

Pete Buttigieg

Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg speaks connected time 3 of the Democratic National Convention astatine the United Center successful Chicago connected Aug. 21, 2024. (REUTERS/Mike Segar)

Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who surpassed expectations during his 2020 Democratic statesmanlike information run, was a precise progressive surrogate connected behalf of Biden and aboriginal Harris, during the 2024 cycle.

He helped rise a batch of wealth for the Democratic Party ticket, including heading a top-dollar fundraiser successful New Hampshire.

The 43-year-old erstwhile South Bend, Indiana, politician and erstwhile naval serviceman who served successful the warfare successful Afghanistan, is considered 1 of the party's biggest and brightest stars. He was known arsenic a apical communicator for the administration, including making predominant appearances connected Fox News.

Fueling buzz astir a imaginable 2028 statesmanlike run, Buttigieg passed connected a 2026 Senate bid successful his adopted location authorities of Michigan and made a high-profile halt successful Iowa earlier this month.

Gov. Andy Beshear of Kentucky

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear speaks during the 2024 Democratic National Convention astatine the United Center successful Chicago connected Monday, Aug. 19, 2024. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc. via Getty Images)

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, 47, who was elected politician successful 2019 and past re-elected successful 2023 successful red-state Kentucky, was connected Harris' longer database for imaginable moving mates.

Beshear made plentifulness of caller friends and contacts arsenic helium ventured to New Hampshire past twelvemonth to header the authorities Democratic Party's yearly autumn fundraising gala.

He served arsenic Kentucky's lawyer wide earlier moving for governor.

Beshear said successful a caller interrogation with section presumption WDRB that "if you'd asked maine a mates years agone if this is thing I'd consider, I astir apt wouldn't have. But I don't privation to permission a breached state to my kids. And so, if I'm idiosyncratic that tin bring this federation together, hopefully find immoderate communal ground, it's thing I'll consider."

Sen. Raphael Warnock of Georgia

Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., speaks with Fox News Digital pursuing a run rally successful Tifton, Georgia, connected Nov. 29, 2022. (Brandon Gillespie/Fox News)

Georgia Sen. Raphael Warnock, 55, is simply a large subordinate successful Washington arsenic the Democratic number successful the Senate fights backmost against the 2nd Trump administration.

Warnock, who won Senate elections successful 2020 and 2022 successful battleground Georgia, served arsenic elder pastor astatine the famed Ebenezer Baptist Church successful Atlanta, wherever Martin Luther King Jr. erstwhile preached.

He is up for re-election to the Senate successful 2028.

Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey

In this representation provided by Senate Television, Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J. speaks connected the Senate level connected Tuesday morning, April 1, 2025. (Senate Television via AP)

Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey, who ran for the 2020 Democratic statesmanlike nomination, is considered 1 of the party's astir talented orators.

Thanks to his 2020 run, Booker made plentifulness of friends and allies successful specified aboriginal states arsenic New Hampshire and South Carolina.

Booker made headlines earlier this twelvemonth by delivering a record-breaking 25-hour and 5-minute marathon code from the level of the Senate. The code protested the sweeping and arguable moves truthful acold by Trump during his 2nd administration, arsenic good arsenic the operations of Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency. 

The 56-year-old legislator is up for re-election successful 2026.

Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut

Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut speaks astatine the National Safer Communities Summit astatine the University of Hartford successful West Hartford, Connecticut, connected Friday, June 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)

Since the November election, Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut has been precise vocal astir the steps Democrats request to instrumentality to triumph backmost working-class voters.

First elected to the House successful 2006 and aboriginal to the Senate successful 2012, the 51-year-old Murphy cruised to re-election this twelvemonth by astir 20 points, which means helium would not person to determine betwixt a re-election bid and a White House tally successful 2028.

Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota 

Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota attends a legislature proceeding connected Wednesday, May 21, 2025 successful Washington, D.C. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Minnesota Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar, 65, who erstwhile served arsenic region lawyer successful Minnesota's astir populous county, is present successful her 4th word successful the Senate.

Klobuchar ran for the 2020 Democratic statesmanlike information and came successful a beardown 3rd successful New Hampshire's first-in-the-nation primary.

The legislator has not ruled retired making different tally for the White House successful 2028.

Rep. Ro Khanna of California

Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna of California is interviewed by Fox News Digital astatine Yale University connected April 15, 2025 successful New Haven, Connecticut. (Fox News - Paul Steinhauser)

Rep. Ro Khanna, 48, was a tireless surrogate connected behalf of Biden and past Harris. 

He has been a regular visitant to New Hampshire successful the past mates of years, including a high-profile statement past twelvemonth against then-GOP statesmanlike campaigner Vivek Ramaswamy.

Khanna has grabbed plentifulness of attraction truthful acold this twelvemonth arsenic helium has held municipality halls successful Republican-controlled legislature districts and targeted Vice President JD Vance with events successful the vice president's location authorities of Ohio and astatine Yale Law School, wherever some politicians earned their ineligible degrees.

Stephen A. Smith

Stephen A. Smith connected the "ESPN NBA Countdown" unrecorded acceptable astatine Intuit Dome connected Oct. 23, 2024. (Kirby Lee-Imagn Images)

The 57-year-old sports TV personality, sports vigor host, sports journalist, and histrion has generated a ton of buzz this twelvemonth arsenic helium has mulled a White House tally and has adjacent grabbed Trump's attention.

Mark Cuban

Mark Cuban spoke astatine a run rally for Democratic statesmanlike nominee Vice President Kamala Harris astatine the University of Wisconsin La Crosse successful La Crosse, Wisconsin, connected Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Another imaginable contender with plentifulness of prima powerfulness is Mark Cuban.

The 66-year-old billionaire concern mogul and part-owner of the NBA's Dallas Mavericks was a high-profile surrogate for Harris during her statesmanlike predetermination campaign.

Gov. Roy Cooper of North Carolina

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper speaks successful enactment of then-presidential campaigner Vice President Kamala Harris astatine the Hendrick Center For Automotive Excellence connected Aug. 16, 2024 successful Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Baldwin/Getty Images)

Former North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, 67, who successful January finished up his eighth and last twelvemonth arsenic governor, took his sanction retired of the Harris moving mate speculation aboriginal successful the process past summer.

Cooper served 16 years arsenic North Carolina's lawyer wide earlier winning predetermination arsenic governor.

The erstwhile politician is being heavy recruited by Democrats to effort and flip a GOP-held Senate spot successful North Carolina successful adjacent year's midterms.

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham of New Mexico

Democratic New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham speaks connected Aug. 9, 2023 successful Belen, New Mexico. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)

New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, 65, is halfway done her 2nd word steering New Mexico.

The governor, a erstwhile subordinate of Congress, was a high-profile and engaged surrogate connected behalf of Harris during the last weeks of the 2024 campaign.

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Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz speaks during a run rally astatine Tucson High Magnet School connected Nov. 2, 2024 successful Tucson, Arizona. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

The 61-year-old Minnesota governor, who served arsenic Harris' moving mate, has 2 years remaining successful his 2nd word successful office.

While the vice statesmanlike nominee's vigor and enthusiasm connected the run way this twelvemonth impressed plentifulness of Democratic strategists, the last results of the predetermination volition marque immoderate imaginable aboriginal nationalist tally for Tim Walz difficult.

Walz has said helium is not reasoning of 2028, but helium has been precise engaged truthful acold this twelvemonth heading events crossed the country, and an upcoming halt successful South Carolina is fueling much White House buzz.

Rahm Emanuel 

U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel speaks during his sojourn to Mitsubishi Heavy Industries’ F-35 combatant pitchy last assembly and inspection works successful Toyoyama, Aichi prefecture, occidental Japan, connected Tuesday, April 16, 2024. (U.S. Embassy via AP)

The 65-year-old Rahm Emanuel, who served the past 4 years arsenic ambassador to Japan during the Biden administration, has a jam-packed resume.

Emanuel, a seasoned of erstwhile President Bill Clinton’s medication successful the 1990s, went connected to service successful Congress and steered the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee during its precise palmy 2006 cycle. He aboriginal served arsenic Obama’s main of unit earlier winning the 2011 predetermination and 2015 re-election arsenic Chicago mayor.

Emanuel, who precocious past twelvemonth mulled making a bid for Democratic National Committee chair, has seen his sanction floated successful caller months arsenic a imaginable 2028 Democratic statesmanlike contender.

Gina Raimondo

Then-Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo attends a gathering of Japanese and South Korean commercialized ministers astatine the Commerce Department successful Washington, D.C., connected June 26, 2024. (REUTERS/Nathan Howard)

The 54-year-old Gina Raimondo, a erstwhile two-term Rhode Island governor, made past arsenic the archetypal pistillate to steer the nation's smallest state.

Raimondo, who served arsenic Commerce caput successful Biden's cabinet, said "yes" erstwhile precocious asked by seasoned Democratic strategist David Axelrod if she was considering a 2028 White House run.

Honorable Mentions: Two different names that besides support coming up successful the Democrats 2028 speech are Gov. Phil Murphy of New Jersey and Sen. Ruben Gallego of battleground Arizona.