# 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:** 81
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2026, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/1601 "2026-02-24T03:40:46Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > I say it’s a lie on the principle of avoiding underestimation of a cunning adversary. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ACnqI1l4I9s/hqdefault.jpg "Baldricks Cunning Plan.avi") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACnqI1l4I9s&t=25) ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2026, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/1602 "2026-02-24T04:09:26Z")
Re last, you don’t win the presidency twice by being dumb. I will be quite surprised if the verdict of history is that Trump believed, on Feb. 23, 2026, that Newsom had pledged not to run in 2028. Far more likely is that Trump saw Newsom is in the news, wondered if saying Newscum was getting a bit old, and looked for a new way to get attention while piling on. P.S. This could be where Trump got the idea for his lie: > **[Gavin Newsom's Son Told Him Not To Run For President Yet Because He's 'Too...](https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/gavin-newsoms-son-told-him-222421249.html)** > > Newsom said his potential presidential run, or lack thereof, would be a family decision. ---
**Author:** ![Calder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e99b99/32.png) [@Calder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Calder)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2026, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/1603 "2026-02-24T16:41:50Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > I think Newsom would be a weak Democratic nominee. But Donald Trump disagrees with me, judging by the fact that he posted this lie on Truth Social tonight: > > [Wow! Gavin Newscum just dropped out of the Presidential Race!!! President DJT](https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/116123225544591694) A Joke maybe??? ie in the vein that anyone who tries to make fun of Trump is asking to be smacked down. It fits Trump’s massively overinflated ego. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2026, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/1604 "2026-02-24T20:14:14Z")
Never mind ---
**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:** [February 24, 2026, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/1605 "2026-02-24T20:25:27Z")
Pritzker’s press team has posted across socials “Big Things happening soon.” > **[Pritzker Press (@pritzkerpress) on Threads](https://www.threads.com/@jbpritzker/post/DVJA7s0DuE0?xmt=AQF0bGJpOqusM903aDkaFOTb07SJ8P8u2KeARctiiTgE6QXRYmzidDFEOsb9a0wWFtrdFFOm&slof=1)** > > Big Things happening soon Based on the mug he’s holding in the pic, it looks like he isn’t running for president…he’s running for [Khan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khan_(title))! ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2026, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/1606 "2026-02-24T21:16:37Z")
[![](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/55114805315_22bcbab659_b.jpg) ](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/55114805315_22bcbab659_b.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2026, 7:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/1607 "2026-02-25T07:56:23Z")
Wasn’t there a Chicago Imperium in one of Heinlein’s futures? ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2026, 8:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/1608 "2026-02-25T08:29:10Z")
Never read much Heinlein. Starship Troopers and Have Spacesuit Will Travel were fun, but I found Stranger In A Strange Land pretentious and meandering and lost interest about 2/3rds of the way through. In any event, the “Pritzker for Khan” memes have been going around for awhile now, apparently mostly because of one particular Twitter account. [https://x.com/Nomads4Pritzker](https://x.com/Nomads4Pritzker) ---
**Author:** ![OttoDaFe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ottodafe/32/356_2.png) [@OttoDaFe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OttoDaFe)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2026, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/1609 "2026-02-25T14:07:22Z")
_Friday_. The Imperium seems to have been a police state. Others (from memory) included the California Confederacy, the Texas Republic, and the Las Vegas Free State. None of which really mattered since by the time of the book the real power lay with the corporate states. ---
**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:** [February 25, 2026, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/1610 "2026-02-25T15:10:56Z")
That’s a very funny account. I especially liked > Leave Twitter because of mismanagement and a resentful owner who seemingly wants to destroy it? Buddy, I’m a Cubs fan. Also, the clip of Pritzker at the Pride parade, making a one-hand catch of a jello shot thrown from the crowd and then sucking it down, is pretty boss. Let’s see Newsom do that. ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2026, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/1611 "2026-02-25T15:36:14Z")
Erm.. is it wise for him to look like a greedy guzzler? ---
**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:** [March 4, 2026, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/1612 "2026-03-04T18:39:06Z")
Gavin Newsom is doing his best to try and appeal to voters like me: > **[Gavin Newsom likens Israel to ‘an apartheid state’ and decries war on Iran](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/mar/04/gavin-newsom-israel-apartheid-state-iran-war)** > > California governor was asked if US should rethink military partnership with Israel while promoting his memoir in LA I don’t remotely trust him, but it’s a very good sign that he thinks the writing on the wall is that the Democratic nominee must oppose this stupid war and the behavior of Israel. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2026, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/1613 "2026-03-04T19:02:05Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Gavin Newsom is doing his best to try and appeal to voters like me: “ > It breaks my heart, because the current leadership in Israel is walking us down that path, where I don’t think you have a choice about that consideration,” Newsom said.o say this in America’s interest at a time when affordability is at crisis levels, where you have an administration that literally got elected saying this is exactly opposite of what they would ever consider doing, the fact that we are in this regional war [with] all these proxies, all the grift and the corruption that also marks a huge part of this, that’s a real conversation we need to have.” _It is not the first time Newsom has been critical of Netanyahu, or Donald Trump’s decision to partner with Israel to attack Iran, during his book tour. On Saturday, he [accused the president](https://www.politico.com/news/2026/02/28/newsom-blasts-trump-over-iran-strikes-weakness-masquerading-as-strength-00806178) of “doubling down on stupid” during his State of the Union address to Congress, and said Trump’s eagerness to engage the US military in Iran stemmed from “weakness masquerading as strength”._ More or less I agree. I am fine with Israel in general, but NOT with Netanyahu. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2026, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/1614 "2026-03-04T19:16:41Z")
Saw this earlier this morning as well. > [@DrDeth](#): > > It breaks my heart, because the current leadership in Israel is walking us down that path, where I don’t think you have a choice about that consideration,” Newsom said.o say this in America’s interest at a time when affordability is at crisis levels, where you have an administration that literally got elected saying this is exactly opposite of what they would ever consider doing, the fact that we are in this regional war [with] all these proxies, all the grift and the corruption that also marks a huge part of this, that’s a real conversation we need to have.” This part of his statement was fine, but saying that the term “apartheid” is “appropriate” is beyond the pale, and I let him know as such in a feedback form I filled out and an email I sent this morning, as I know others in my community have. He’s lost my support in the primary over this, as I let him know, and further I think that strategically he is making a big mistake. There is no appealing to the wing of the party that thinks he is complicit in “trans genocide” because he told Charlie Kirk that it isn’t appropriate for sports participation to be entirely based on self identity, and even this statement on Israel will not be enough for them. These are people who [would vote Third Party in a race between Newsom and JD Vance.](https://www.newsweek.com/hasan-piker-defends-vote-third-party-over-gavin-newsom-2028-11508155) Of course, I would still vote for him over a Republican if it came down to it, but I would no longer be excited to. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2026, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/1615 "2026-03-04T19:22:12Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > This part of his statement was fine, but saying that the term “apartheid” is “appropriate” is beyond the pale, True, but I did say- > [@DrDeth](#): > > More or less I agree. I still support him until someone better gets in the lead. ---
**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:** [March 4, 2026, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/1616 "2026-03-04T20:17:29Z")
Newsom, as much as I think he sucks, is very intelligent. Since I seriously doubt he’s speaking based on sincere belief, something inspired him to try and appeal to voters like me who are horrified both by this dumb war and Israel’s genocide in Gaza. Thus I suspect he believes that’s the winning position on that issue for the primary. But some Democrat is probably going try to take up the mantle of Israel’s champion (and perhaps warmongering in general). Who will that be? Maybe Shapiro? Bloomberg again? Rahm Emanuel? ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2026, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/1617 "2026-03-04T20:19:01Z")
Calling Israel an “apartheid” state is disqualifying, IMO. ---
**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:** [March 4, 2026, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/1618 "2026-03-04T20:21:33Z")
Glad to be collecting so many converts to the “Newsom sucks” camp! ---
**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:** [March 4, 2026, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/1619 "2026-03-04T21:16:55Z")
Although it’s not entirely clear, it seems like he isn’t saying Israel _is_ an apartheid State, he’s saying that it would become one in the hypothetical future where it annexes the West Bank. > “The issue of Bibi is interesting because he’s got his own domestic issues,” Newsom said. > > “He’s trying to [stay out of jail](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/nov/30/benjamin-netanyahu-asks-israel-president-isaac-herzog-for-pardon-corruption-case). He’s got an election coming up. He’s potentially on the ropes. He’s got folks on the hardline that want to annex the West Bank. Friedman and others are talking about it appropriately, [as] sort of an apartheid state.” So he’s quoting with approval Thomas Friedman, who started using the term “apartheid” to describe the situation in the occupied territories in 2023. If _Thomas Friedman_ can’t pass your Zionist purity test, you may need binoculars to locate the mainstream of the Democratic Party. From the same Guardian article as above: > A [Gallup poll](https://news.gallup.com/poll/702440/israelis-no-longer-ahead-americans-middle-east-sympathies.aspx) last month revealed that 41% of Americans now sympathize more with Palestinians than Israelis over the situation in the Middle East. In no previous poll over 25 years have Israelis, now at 36%, trailed in general support. > > Among Democratic voters, the divide is much wider. Gallup found 65% sympathize more with Palestinians, and only 17% for Israelis. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2026, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/1620 "2026-03-04T21:34:16Z")
> [@Thing.Fish](#): > > Although it’s not entirely clear, it seems like he isn’t saying Israel _is_ an apartheid State, he’s saying that it would become one in the hypothetical future where it annexes the West Bank. If that’s what he’s trying to say then I don’t have a problem with it because that’s the reason for my opposition to annexing the West Bank as well. But I do wish he was a lot clearer with his language if that was the case, because this is definitely not something to be sloppy about. I hope that he clarifies in the future, and I hope you are right about his actual meaning. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036.md?page=80) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036.md?page=82)