# Frontrunners for Democratic presidential nomination in 2028 **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [January 16, 2025, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036 "2025-01-16T06:50:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 27
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2025, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/521 "2025-05-19T05:06:11Z")
I hate to say it, but having twice run well-qualified women for President and lost, it might be a very long time indeed before Dems do it again. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2025, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/522 "2025-05-19T20:14:52Z")
> [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](#): > > I feel the same about Pete Buttigieg. I would definitely vote for either over the GOP nominee. I highly doubt most voters would do the same. > > Both need more experience and would be crushed in 2028 if either was the nominee. Yep, both might be good candidates- _later._ ---
**Author:** ![Aeschines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aeschines/32/16251_2.png) [@Aeschines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aeschines)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2025, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/523 "2025-05-19T20:51:51Z")
People keep saying things like this and it turns into a big debate. The same debate. We lost twice to _Trump_, a unique figure in US political history. And we didn’t even lose by that much, especially in 2016 (we won the popular vote, after all). I think we can run nearly any competent Democrat, woman or not, against, say, JD Vance in 2028 and win, assuming that we will still have real, normal elections at that point (and I do). ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2025, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/524 "2025-05-19T21:33:24Z")
> [@Aeschines](#): > > I think we can run nearly any competent Democrat, woman or not, against, say, JD Vance in 2028 and win, assuming that we will still have real, normal elections at that point (and I do). While I think the elections themselves will be free and fair, consider today’s resignation of the CBS News boss. I expect 2028 television to do more sanewashing, and present more false equivalencies, than last year. The administration will be reporting incorrect positive economic statistics, and some swing voters will be fooled by them. Also, Vance will say whatever he needs to win. I question whether AOC will do that. This isn’t a comment on her personality – I do not know that well. What I think is that the people surrounding her believe in the [base voter fallacy](https://www.slowboring.com/p/the-democratic-partys-siren-call). I think Reuben Gallego would say what’s necessary, since he already is doing that, But Democratic primary voters will fool themselves into thinking that what sounds good to them will sound good to median voters, or that base Democratic voters win elections. It may be that the economy will be so bad, in 2028, that falsified statistics and right-triending media cannot hide it. And it may be that the Republicans will nominate someone less electable than Vance (I’m thinking Donald Trump, or a Vance/Trump ticket). Then you will be correct. ---
**Author:** ![Aeschines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aeschines/32/16251_2.png) [@Aeschines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aeschines)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2025, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/525 "2025-05-19T22:30:52Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > I expect 2028 television to do more sanewashing, and present more false equivalencies, than last year. The administration will be reporting incorrect positive economic statistics, and some swing voters will be fooled by them. One big question is what will Trump’s physical state be in 2028? A) Dead, B) Alive but clearly, manifestly, undeniably unwell (he’s not far from that now), C) Like B, but propped up somewhat effectively as Biden was (I’m a Democrat, but yeah…). The best chance the GOP will have is for Trump to be alive and seeming to do as well as is possible and passing the baton to a successor (the idea of his running again, based on his current physical state alone, is absurd). That will be the easiest thing for the RW media to sanewash, but doing so doesn’t solve the real problem, which is… > [@](#): > > Also, Vance will say whatever he needs to win. Sure, he can try. But he’s not Trump. Trump is a charismatic cult leader; Vance is not. Trump is the deplorables’ drug; Vance is not. No one is. That’s the problem the GOP will have. > [@](#): > > I question whether AOC will do that. This isn’t a comment on her personality – I do not know that well. What I think is that the people surrounding her believe in the [base voter fallacy](https://www.slowboring.com/p/the-democratic-partys-siren-call). I’m pretty sure that AOC has actual principles. Also, thanks for the link. Very interesting. > [@](#): > > It may be that the economy will be so bad, in 2028, that falsified statistics and right-triending media cannot hide it. And it may be that the Republicans will nominate someone less electable than Vance (I’m thinking Donald Trump, or a Vance/Trump ticket). Then you will be correct. I am not counting on Trump to ruin the economy. If he gets out of his own way, the economy will probably be as OK as it can be under Late Stage Capitalism. I am counting on Trump, however, to be incapable of shutting his dumb fucking mouth and surrounding himself with other morons who do a bunch of dumb shit. That, plus the lack of a successor, will be sufficient for a Democratic win in 2028. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2025, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/526 "2025-05-19T23:04:59Z")
I think if AOC runs for the nomination, she’ll probably become the party nominee. IMO she has natural communication talent akin to Obama, and people that talented tend to win. Issues are much less important than that, in terms of winning. ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2025, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/527 "2025-05-20T00:23:52Z")
The idea it is a given the Democrats will be able to win the Presidency in 2028 is not knowable in any real way at this point. This is probably a discussion more suited to a different thread but I will simply say this - if the Ds manage to retake the House in '26, any problems that come up between then and '28 will be blamed on them and trumpeted by the now cowed news media. Any positive things that happen will be attributed to the genius of DJT and the GOP. More on topic I will say I think both AOC and Buttigieg would be strong candidates as the nominee but from my current vantage point I see them likely losing. The Democrats have people who would have a better chance of bringing the wayward Obama/Biden voters back to their side and have a better chance helping them win. ---
**Author:** ![Aeschines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aeschines/32/16251_2.png) [@Aeschines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aeschines)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2025, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/528 "2025-05-20T15:36:07Z")
> [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](#): > > The idea it is a given the Democrats will be able to win the Presidency in 2028 is not knowable in any real way at this point. I think the Dems can lose _if_ we run a very bad candidate _and_ they run a strong normie Republican who is able to take what has been good about Trump (lol) while nevertheless pivoting away from him and his regime. It’s a very tall order. The only other option for the GOP is for MAGA to be a “success” by 2028 and for Trump to anoint a successor who inspires the deplorables while remaining acceptable to the general electorate. I don’t personally see any current GOP pol who would work. Further, JD Vance cannot succeed in that role, but he will fight being pushed out of the way, further weakening the GOP’s prospects. > [@](#): > > […] if the Ds manage to retake the House in '26, any problems that come up between then and '28 will be blamed on them and trumpeted by the now cowed news media. Any positive things that happen will be attributed to the genius of DJT and the GOP. The media will only be able to blame the Dems for obstruction, and they might do that, but the real problem of the Trump regime will be its constant trolling of the American public and the ongoing incompetence of its figures. E.g., the media can’t blame Congress for Pete Hegseth and dumb things he is certain to do going forward. > [@](#): > > More on topic I will say I think both AOC and Buttigieg would be strong candidates as the nominee but from my current vantage point I see them likely losing. The Democrats have people who would have a better chance of bringing the wayward Obama/Biden voters back to their side and have a better chance helping them win. I don’t want Buttigieg to be president, as I don’t think he’s that kind of leader. He’s a McKinsey wonk, more useful to the party as a Fox-trolling talking head (he’s very, very good at that!). Would he and AOC lose, though? Again, they could against a normie Mitt Romney type Republican who is able to pivot away from Trump. AOC is right on that line of triggering the deplorables a la Hillary because she’s a woman; plus she’s young and Hispanic. So even if they are not excited by the GOP candidate, they may dislike AOC enough to allow the GOP to squeak by with a win. I’m not even saying such a scenario is likely, just that it is plausible. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2025, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/529 "2025-05-20T19:18:20Z")
> [@Aeschines](#): > > I think we can run nearly any competent Democrat, woman or not, against, say, JD Vance in 2028 and win, assuming that we will still have real, normal elections at that point (and I do). IF the progressive wing (or any subset of dems) doesnt turn against the winner and bad mouth them. Some dems in 2016 worked harder against Hillary than they did against trump. But already we have posters here “disqualifying” candidates for meeting trump, or other silly things- not real stuff like Mayor Pete and AOC- who arent ready yet. > [@Aeschines](#): > > One big question is what will Trump’s physical state be in 2028? A) Dead, From your lips to God’s’ ears. 😇 But yeah, I dont think he will last even that long. > [@iiandyiiii](#): > > I think if AOC runs for the nomination, she’ll probably become the party nominee. I disagree. She is part of the “Squad” which is not that popular. > [@Aeschines](#): > > I think the Dems can lose _if_ we run a very bad candidate _and_ they run a strong normie Republican… The first is possible. The second no longer is- not for an election or two anyway. > [@Aeschines](#): > > I don’t want Buttigieg to be president, as I don’t think he’s that kind of leader. He’s a McKinsey wonk, more useful to the party as a Fox-trolling talking head (he’s very, very good at that!). Would he and AOC lose, though? Buttigieg would get slaughtered. Little experience and openly gay. The GOP could run Dead Donald trump and DDT would win. AOC- not yet. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2025, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/530 "2025-05-20T20:12:12Z")
I’m hoping for a Pritzker-AOC ticket. These two have never shied away from being anti-trump, never cozied up to him in any way, he’s a class-traitor progressive, she’s a working-class left wing populist, he’s a middle-aged white guy, she’s a young Latina, both have great communication skills (her especially)… just all-around a nicely balanced ticket that I think could win a lot of people over. To me, Buttigieg (and anyone else from the Biden cabinet) was too close to Biden. He’s gonna have to spend a lot of time explaining to much of the electorate how he could’ve been so close the president and not seen his decline. I think Bidenworld candidates will have a hard time breaking through in '28. ---
**Author:** ![Thing.Fish](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thing.fish/32/9168_2.png) [@Thing.Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing.Fish)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2025, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/531 "2025-05-21T13:59:45Z")
I really like that idea, and agree that we absolutely need someone not closely associated with the Biden administration. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2025, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/532 "2025-05-21T16:57:19Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > I’m hoping for a Pritzker-AOC ticket. That could work. But still I’d prefer AOC get more experience, instead of a short time in the House. > [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > To me, Buttigieg (and anyone else from the Biden cabinet) was too close to Biden. He’s gonna have to spend a lot of time explaining to much of the electorate how he could’ve been so close the president and not seen his decline. Nothing wrong with being in Biden cabinet. **And- there was no mental decline.** Medical experts have confirmed this. So, he couldnt have seen it, since it wasnt there. ---
**Author:** ![Aeschines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aeschines/32/16251_2.png) [@Aeschines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aeschines)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2025, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/533 "2025-05-21T16:59:59Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > IF the progressive wing (or any subset of dems) doesnt turn against the winner and bad mouth them. Some dems in 2016 worked harder against Hillary than they did against trump. This didn’t happen in 2024. Our team may have learned its lesson by now. > [@](#): > > But already we have posters here “disqualifying” candidates for meeting trump, or other silly things- not real stuff like Mayor Pete and AOC- who arent ready yet. I’m not thrilled by some of Newsom’s moves and Whitmer’s recent meeting with Trump, but I wouldn’t disqualify the latter unless she keeps making such flubs. (Newsom isn’t presidential material, IMHO.) > [@](#): > > From your lips to God’s’ ears. 😇 But yeah, I dont think he will last even that long. If he is even in office four years from now, it would be a Wilson/Biden type situation, but I don’t think the GOP can prop up Trump the same way, since running his dumb mouth without pause is a core part of his brand and “presence.” > [@](#): > > The second [running a strong normie Republican] no longer is- not for an election or two anyway. Yeah, a quick pivot away from MAGA is hard to imagine. > [@](#): > > Buttigieg would get slaughtered. Little experience and openly gay. The GOP could run Dead Donald trump and DDT would win. AOC- not yet. I think Buttigieg’s biggest flaw is that he thinks he can be president some day and is wasting mental energy and probably other opportunities on that. But such a delusion afflicts many a politician. In agreement with you, I say I think AOC needs to build executive experience. It’s not crazy to want our politicians to be ready for their jobs! ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2025, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/534 "2025-05-21T17:01:46Z")
> [@Aeschines](#): > > This didn’t happen in 2024. Our team may have learned its lesson by now. Let us hope so. There was some from the pro-palestine people however. > [@Aeschines](#): > > In agreement with you, I say I think AOC needs to build executive experience. It’s not crazy to want our politicians to be ready for their jobs! But I like her, and hope she gets some more experience. ---
**Author:** ![Aeschines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aeschines/32/16251_2.png) [@Aeschines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aeschines)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2025, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/535 "2025-05-21T17:12:06Z")
[quote=“DrDeth, post:534, topic:1013036, full:true”] Let us hope so. There was some from the pro-palestine people however. [quote] As yes, you’re correct. > [@](#): > > But I like her, and hope she gets some more experience. Yes, she has very great potential. She could also work her way up through the House a bit more as well. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2025, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/536 "2025-05-21T19:41:37Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > **And- there was no mental decline.** Medical experts have confirmed this. So, he couldnt have seen it, since it wasnt there. That’s not what the public is hearing. That’s not what people saw with their own two eyes in his disastrous debate. There’s a narrative that’s pretty convincing that his mind was diminished, and anyone in his cabinet is going to be using a lot of oxygen A) convincing voters that Biden was _not_ mentally diminished and B) trying to explain why they didn’t say anything about his diminished state. To be honest, it matters less what doctors say than what people believe. Do you really want candidates having to revisit this bullshit with the media/with voters/in debates rather than looking forward or attacking Trump? There’s gonna be a bit of a weight around Bidenworld candidates’ necks right out of the gate. Eta: I’m pretty damn sure any Democratic candidate (like Pritzker, Warnock, Newsome,etc) running against a Buttigieg or Harris or any other cabinet member will attack along this narrative and bring it up over and over. That’s politics. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2025, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/537 "2025-05-21T20:18:24Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > anyone in his cabinet is going to be using a lot of oxygen A) convincing voters that Biden was _not_ mentally diminished and B) trying to explain why they didn’t say anything about his diminished state. > > To be honest, it matters less what doctors say than what people believe. Do you really want candidates having to revisit this bullshit with the media/with voters/in debates rather than looking forward or attacking Trump? Which we know is exactly why the “thoughts and prayers” post was very soon followed by the “what did everybody know?” post. The 'pubs _ **want** _ the Dems to spend time and effort hitting each other over that. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2025, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/538 "2025-05-21T22:34:17Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > Eta: I’m pretty damn sure any Democratic candidate (like Pritzker, Warnock, Newsome,etc) running against a Buttigieg or Harris or any other cabinet member will attack along this narrative and bring it up over and over. That’s politics. Maybe, but it will be ancient history by then. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2025, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/539 "2025-05-21T22:44:36Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > The 'pubs _ **want** _ the Dems to spend time and effort hitting each other over that. Each Dem candidate is gonna hit every other Dem candidate over anything that will give them an edge, including any association with Biden. That’s just how primaries work. I like Biden. I thought he was a very good president. But the general populous didn’t. He had terrible approval ratings and essentially lost the election for the Dems in 2024. The quicker the party can turn the page on this the better. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2025, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/540 "2025-05-21T22:49:06Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > That’s not what the public is hearing. That’s not what people saw with their own two eyes in his disastrous debate. One bad debate- when Joe was sick and had jet lag. All those haters who “saw with their own eyes” are nto medical experts. Anyone can have a real bad day- I lost a chess tournament in High School as the lunch pizza made me ill- and i was young. Everyone even said “You didnt seem yourself today”- so if that can happen to a 17 yo in otherwise great health- it can happen to an older dude- in otherwise great health. > [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > To be honest, it matters less what doctors say than what people believe. People believe lies all the time- 77 Million of them voted for trump. Were they right? And posters- like you did here- bring it up over and over just spreads the untrue rumors. You said it as a fact, not something “many people believe”. > [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > Eta: I’m pretty damn sure any Democratic candidate (like Pritzker, Warnock, Newsome,etc) If any of them run of the platform of Biden being mentally infirm while Joe was in office- they will lose my vote- period. Dems do not generally run of platforms of out and out lies. > [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > I like Biden. I thought he was a very good president. Then why spread such things? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036.md?page=26) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036.md?page=28)