Posted on 07/27/2026 12:19:42 PM PDT by Responsibility2nd
What Axios' Alex Thompson is hearing from Democratic insiders about the party's most likely 2028 Democratic nominees, as told to Jim VandeHei for his weekly Axios C-Suite newsletter:
1. Kamala Harris. She is far ahead of every other contender with Black voters, still the most important voting bloc in a Democratic primary. Her allies argue that no one else is as prepared for a national campaign. She was a better candidate in 2024 than in 2020 and is working hard to be a better, more authentic, less cautious candidate in 2028. Harris is likely a beneficiary of Democrats' preliminary choice yesterday of South Carolina, instead of Nevada, for the first Democratic presidential primary of 2028.
2. AOC. No one else can plausibly claim to be Bernie Sanders' rightful heir, and she channels where the energy of the party is right now. If Bernie endorses her on Day 1, she will raise $100 million without talking to a single donor. The question isn't whether she'd be a top contender, but rather whether she decides to run for Senate instead.
3. Gavin Newsom. He's the best political athlete in the field who can stand apart in the debates. He can convincingly argue that he's done more than any other Democrat to push back against President Trump at a time when Democrats feel powerless. With his longtime connections in Silicon Valley and non-doomer views, he'll also have access to deep pockets — but that California baggage is heavy.
4. TBD center-left candidate. Big business, the party establishment and some voters are desperate for a more moderate choice. They'll have many options, including Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona, Rahm Emanuel, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear. At a time of populist anger, it's unclear how big this lane is — and if it's big enough for more than one candidate. Right now, it feels like an establishment fantasy.
Beshear could be the best option, but I don’t think he’s far left enough to capture the base.
Any of those other candidates have no chance against Rubio, Vance or DeSantis. I honestly don’t think ANY Dem can beat any of those 3.
Kamel toes would not have a clue on how to debate or discuss any of those issues. She is an alcoholic moron.
I think it will come done to Kamala (Democrat) vs AOC (Democrat Socialist) and the Socialist will get the nom.
Look at the trajectory the left is on...re-nominating Kamala would split the party, and they’ll always tilt to the left to avoid that.
Very true.
In Sacramento, Kalifornia, Antifa is protesting, disrupting the Sacramento City Council meetings. Apparently, the Sacramento democRATs do not sufficiently despise America and the Joooooozzzz.
If the first Democrat primary in SC, she’s in.
““She (Kamala) was a better candidate in 2024 than in 2020.” LOL. Lowest bar in history. She didn’t make it to the first primary.”
She didn’t run in a primary in 2024. She had four years from 2020 to 2024 to train. There was no improvement. What you have seen is what you get. Like 2020 and 2024, the MSM will try to carry the Democrat candidate over the finish line.
It is very rare for a candidate who has lost a Presidential election to get another try. The only one in recent history who did and went on to win the election was Richard Nixon in 1968. Before that you have Adlai Stevenson in 1956 and Thomas Dewey in 1948, both of whom lost.
The Democrats are going to learn that they can not get rid of the Marxisis now and they won’t let up. They are the walking dead.
.........”Democrats. The world’s largest open air psychiatric asylum other than Islam.”
very clever. Make bumper stickers.
5. The Maine nazi. Forgotten already?
Certainly not. Especially Shapiro. The far lefties would never nominate a Jewish candidate
For obvious reasons.
When McCain ran in 2008, I wanted his campaign slogan to be, “It Could Be Worse!”
For Harris 2028, “Slightly Less Stupid Than Last Time!”
If we have to listen to a drunk cackle on in incomprehensible word salad sentences for an election campaign, I might just shoot myself.
“She (Kamala) was a better candidate in 2024 than in 2020.”
“She had four years from 2020 to 2024 to train. There was no improvement.”
Almost everybody does better after four years of OJT. As you say, there was NO improvement whatsoever.
Excellent graphic. LOL.
I dare to dream of “Now Sharper than a Cucumber!” run diagonally on the lower right corner...
He still is. The MSM will magically erase any California sins for him and the DNC's money men know they need a white male candidate this time - the DEI experiment has backfired too many times and the DSA's rise needs to be fended off. Newsom won't turn off any particular segment of the fragile Collectivist Coalition as long as he doesn't accidentally voice any support for Israel.
No Democrat office-holder (and very few Republicans) have any discretion to govern on their own beliefs, anyway. Democrats want a return to the Clinton/Obama era National Talk Show Host style of leadership and Newsom remains the perfect fit.
I'll be shocked if Newsom isn't the nominee - after disappearing completely for a few months early next year for an image makeover.
If he ran, Harold Ford could take out Kamala. He’s more authentically black. He won’t get the nomination though. Maybe the number two spot?
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