Democrats Eye 2028 Race as Shapiro Leads in Pennsylvania

Democratic contenders are already positioning themselves for a potential 2028 presidential run, signaling an open race with no clear party standard-bearer to succeed Republican President Donald Trump. Governors and senators from across the country are fanning out to traditional early-voting states, courting donors, and rolling out books—familiar steps toward a White House run against Republicans’ eventual nominee.

Among the governors generating the most buzz is Josh Shapiro, who has more than $1.2 million in his political action committee and has visited South Carolina, likely a key early primary state. He expressed comfort with being talked about as a potential 2028 candidate during an interview on MS NOW this month. Strengths include being elected twice in a heavily Republican state, while vulnerabilities include limited national recognition and a bipartisan approach that may not appeal to Democratic primary voters.

Shapiro won his primary in Pennsylvania uncontested and is leading in polls against Trump-backed Republican Stacy Garrity. He has made his opposition to Trump's agenda a central focus of his reelection campaign. Shapiro is on track to break his own fundraising record and is working to flip important Republican-held U.S. House seats and deliver the first Democratic-controlled state Legislature in more than three decades.

California's governor Gavin Newsom released a memoir in February and has also visited South Carolina, with over $4 million in his political action committee. He told CBS News Sunday Morning in October that after the midterm elections, he would give serious thought to running in 2028. Strengths include a national profile built through sharp criticism of Trump, while vulnerabilities include high gasoline prices and homelessness rates in California.

In Pennsylvania, Democratic Governor Josh Shapiro is leading in polls for the gubernatorial race against Republican state Treasurer Stacy Garrity, who is backed by President Donald Trump. Neither faced opposition in their primary races, with Shapiro leading by a sizeable margin according to recent polls. The general election showdown in this crucial battleground state could have significant implications for national politics.

Other potential contenders include former presidential candidates like Pete Buttigieg and Kamala Harris, as well as senators such as Mark Kelly of Arizona and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York. These individuals are seen as having the potential to make a significant impact in the 2028 Democratic nominating contest.

The Democratic nominating contest will take shape after the 2026 midterm elections this November, with voters preparing to head to the polls for primary elections that could determine control of the US Congress. The upcoming retirement of Democratic Representative Dwight Evans has set off a competitive primary in Pennsylvania's third congressional district.