# 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:** 32
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2025, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/621 "2025-05-30T22:59:16Z")
> [@Aeschines](#): > > I don’t love him, but I’d vote for him over any fascist. Over any republican myself. ---
**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 30, 2025, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/622 "2025-05-30T23:08:14Z")
Same thing! ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanubv.2/32/3260_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUBv.2)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2025, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/623 "2025-05-31T02:25:27Z")
> [@Tamerlane](#): > > Dude had an affair with his best friend’s wife. He’s absolutely slimy. On a personal level. It was only recently that I learned he was married to Kimberly Guilfoyle. That subtracted a few points for me, but I actually do like him. I also think he’s way too slick for many, if not most, people. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2025, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/624 "2025-05-31T05:05:36Z")
> [@Aeschines](#): > > I don’t love him, but I’d vote for him over any fascist. > [@WOOKINPANUBv.2](#): > > That subtracted a few points for me, but I actually do like him. I’ve often likened him to the complicated [Tommy Carcetti](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tommy_Carcetti) from the HBO series The Wire (who was himself partially based on [Martin O’Malley](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_O%27Malley)). Young(ish), very ambitious, slightly shady, smart, sometimes arrogant, essentially well-meaning political player that worked his way up from young mayor to state governor. I think his heart is mostly in the right place, I agree with him politically more often than not, think he mostly does/would do a decent job and I don’t particularly like him. But I keep voting for him, despite my mild distaste. ---
**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 31, 2025, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/625 "2025-05-31T18:22:12Z")
He gives off a strong douchebag vibe, and fawning over Charlie Kirk on his podcast didn’t raise him at all in my esteem. ---
**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 31, 2025, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/626 "2025-05-31T19:43:33Z")
Yes and yes. ---
**Author:** ![Lantern2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lantern2/32/3010_2.png) [@Lantern2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lantern2)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2025, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/627 "2025-05-31T20:45:20Z")
> **[2028 Democratic Primary Polling Average — Race to the WH](https://www.racetothewh.com/president/2028/dem)** > > Interactive polling average tracking the latest polls for the 2028 Democratic Primary. Includes a polling map showing the leader in each state. The latest poll by AtlasIntel shows Mayor Pete in a surprisingly big lead at 32%. This is substantially better than the other polls though he is clearly one of the front-runners at least. Harris is still polling well but her numbers are dropping and I doubt she will be a serious contender. At this early stage the front-runners look like Buttigieg, Booker, Newsom and AOC with a couple of dark horses likely to emerge when the race gets serious. Of these I think AOC would be a disaster and a likely loser, Newsom fairly dubious but not without some strengths and Buttigieg/Booker two relatively strong candidates though with some significant weaknesses too. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2025, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/628 "2025-05-31T21:45:42Z")
> [@Tamerlane](#): > > I’ve often likened him to the complicated [Tommy Carcetti](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tommy_Carcetti) from the HBO series The Wire (who was himself partially based on [Martin O’Malley](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_O%27Malley)). Young(ish), very ambitious, slightly shady, smart, sometimes arrogant, essentially well-meaning political player that worked his way up from young mayor to state governor. It’s also rumored that Newsom was part of the inspiration for Gavin Belson, the similarly ambitious/shady/arrogant/etc. tech CEO on HBO’s _Silicon Valley_. (Which, coincidentally, also featured a character named “Guilfoyle.”) ---
**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:** [June 2, 2025, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/629 "2025-06-02T19:48:40Z")
Saw this article about Rahm: > **[Rahm Emanuel Tells WSJ Democrats Must Move to Center to Win: Party Brand Is...](https://www.mediaite.com/politics/rahm-emanuel-tells-wsj-democrats-must-move-to-center-to-win-party-brand-is-toxic-and-weak-and-woke/)** > > Rahm Emanuel, who is reportedly considering running for president in 2028, told The Wall Street Journal that Democrats need to move to the center if they want to win again, blasting the party's current brand as "toxic" and "weak and woke." Ugh. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2025, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/630 "2025-06-02T20:15:59Z")
> [@Tamerlane](#): > > Dude had an affair with his best friend’s wife. Interesting how this seems to be a _disq_ualification for Dems, but seems to be a requirement for the “Moral” party- the GOP. 🙄 ---
**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:** [June 2, 2025, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/631 "2025-06-02T20:49:16Z")
Something that boosts my hopes about '28 - since pretty much 1976, if Democrats have a wide open primary without a presumptive nominee, and not against an elected incumbent, they win, I believe without exception. All the Democratic non-incumbent wins since '76 came in this way (Carter, Clinton, Obama, Biden), and their losses were either incumbent losses or presumptive nominee losses. And '28 should be a wide open primary against a non incumbent. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2025, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/632 "2025-06-02T20:56:42Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Something that boosts my hopes about '28 - since pretty much 1976, if Democrats have a wide open primary without a presumptive nominee, and not against an elected incumbent, they win Not in 2016. The primary- despite what some have claimed- was wide open. In fact being wide open was one of the things that lost Hillary the election. The only “presumptive nominee” was Harris. Not to mention the 1988 election, where again the Dem nomination (Dukakis) was also wide open. > **[1988 United States presidential election](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1988_United_States_presidential_election)** > > Ronald Reagan > Republican > George H. W. Bush > Republican ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2025, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/633 "2025-06-02T21:18:54Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > All the Democratic non-incumbent wins since '76 came in this way (Carter, Clinton, Obama, Biden) For what it’s worth, all of those victories _also_ came on the heels of significant crises (recessions, wars, corruption, and a pandemic) which occurred during their GOP predecessors’ tenures. ---
**Author:** ![penultima\_thule](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penultima_thule/32/3833_2.png) [@penultima\_thule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/penultima_thule)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2025, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/634 "2025-06-02T22:23:30Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > came on the heels of significant crises You are telling me that we need to hope for a bigger crisis than the one ya got? 🙃 ---
**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:** [June 2, 2025, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/635 "2025-06-02T22:49:36Z")
Good point on Dukakis, but I disagree about '16. No point in relitigating it now. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2025, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/636 "2025-06-02T23:49:25Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > For what it’s worth, all of those victories _also_ came on the heels of significant crises (recessions, wars, corruption, and a pandemic) which occurred during their GOP predecessors’ tenures. Good point. And so will 2028, of course. > [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Good point on Dukakis, but I disagree about '16. No point in relitigating it now. Okay. ---
**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:** [June 12, 2025, 9:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/637 "2025-06-12T09:56:43Z")
I think Newsom is mostly a scumbag (compared to most other Democratic possibilities), but in vocally fighting the Trump administration, he’s making the right decision. Democrats in the House and Senate should be doing everything they can to shut down normal business until the law breaking stops. The winner of the '28 primary is going to be a fighter. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2025, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/638 "2025-06-12T20:04:25Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > I think Newsom is mostly a scumbag (compared to most other Democratic possibilities), Boy this is the kind of backing that will ensure the Dem retake the White House. You know, none of the leading Dem candidates are a bad choice or will make a bad president- IMHO- a couple need more experience before they can win, but they still seem to have good ideas. Any of them will make a better choice than any MAGA. ---
**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:** [June 12, 2025, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/639 "2025-06-12T20:06:51Z")
There are plenty of scumbags I would happily vote for over any MAGA candidate, because they are all far, far worse. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2025, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/640 "2025-06-12T20:10:19Z")
Maybe then, it’d be best if people didnt call them names. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036.md?page=31) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036.md?page=33)