Several prominent Democrats and potential 2028 presidential contenders spoke at the National Action Network (NAN) convention in New York City this week. The gathering, hosted by Rev. Al Sharpton, focused on midterm elections, affordability issues, foreign policy concerns like the war in Iran, and the future of the Democratic party.
Key Takeaways
Prominent Democrats spoke at the National Action Network (NAN) convention in New York City this week, focusing on midterm elections, affordability issues, foreign policy concerns like the war in Iran, and the future of the Democratic party. Kamala Harris hinted at a potential 2028 presidential run during her speech.
Key speakers included Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, Maryland Governor Wes Moore, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, California Representative Ro Khanna, Arizona Senator Ruben Gallego, and former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. Other scheduled speakers include South Carolina Representative Jim Clyburn, Arizona Senator Mark Kelly, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, Maryland Representative Glenn Ivey, New York District Attorney Alvin Bragg, and Florida Representative Maxwell Frost.
The convention highlighted the Democratic party's focus on engaging with Black leaders and activists as potential 2028 contenders jockey for position. California Governor Gavin Newsom and New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez were unable to attend.
Speakers emphasized the importance of Black voters in Democratic politics. Basil Smikle Jr., former executive director of the New York state Democratic party, told Bloomberg that NAN has become a crucial convener for African-American and activist communities. Wes Moore, a combat veteran, discussed the war in Iran, expressing concerns about its impact on American taxpayers and energy prices.
Governor Shapiro framed the midterms as a 'national referendum' on former President Donald Trump's leadership and urged people to vote. Rep. Khanna called for more moral clarity and conviction from the Democratic party, while other attendees echoed enthusiasm for the speakers and their messages on affordability and social issues.
Former Vice President Kamala Harris joined Sharpton for a 'fireside chat' on Friday. During her speech, Harris said she is “thinking about” running in the 2028 presidential election. She criticized former President Trump's foreign policy, calling it an erosion of global alliances, and warned against the erosion of voting rights across the US. Harris urged voters to check their voter status and polling locations ahead of the elections.
How this summary was created
This summary synthesizes reporting from 5 independent publishers using AI. All sources are cited and linked below. NewsBalance is a news aggregator and media literacy tool, not a news publisher. AI-generated content may contain errors or inaccuracies — always verify important information with the original sources.