# 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:** 82
**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, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/1621 "2026-03-04T22:12:21Z")
> [@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. Good point. So, as is common the headline is deceiving. > [@Thing.Fish](#): > > 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. Very good, i chuckled a little. ---
**Author:** ![Calder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e99b99/32.png) [@Calder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Calder)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2026, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/1622 "2026-03-04T22:13:06Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > 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. I am lukewarm on Newsome. My reaction to all of this is 1. I agree with you that Newsome is overly polished. 2. I also think Newsom is trying to thread the needle here by condemning Isreal while at the same time not having to invest any political capital on making any changes in US policy towards Israel. 3. This is more of a guess\feeling but my impression is that Israel isn’t even in Newsome’s top 10 issues that are important to him and this is just a carefully crafted response that lets him focus on other things he does care about. 4. My own reaction to Israel\Gaza for political candidates in the Democratic primary is that this is a trap issue designed to divide us as we have so many other issues that are higher priority than trying to solve the neverending Gordian Knot that is the Middle East. ---
**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, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/1623 "2026-03-04T22:27:42Z")
> [@Calder](#): > > I also think Newsom is trying to thread the needle here by condemning Isreal while at the same time not having to invest any political capital on making any changes in US policy towards Israel. He is attacking Netanyahu, not the State of Israel. Nor does he have any power to make such changes. > [@Calder](#): > > My own reaction to Israel\Gaza for political candidates in the Democratic primary is that this is a trap issue designed to divide us as we have so many other issues that are higher priority than trying to solve the neverending Gordian Knot that is the Middle East. Good point. ---
**Author:** ![Calder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e99b99/32.png) [@Calder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Calder)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2026, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/1624 "2026-03-04T23:10:55Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > He is attacking Netanyahu, not the State of Israel. And in the context of this thread this matters how? I have a hard time seeing how pointing this out makes any difference in the context of choosing the best Democratic primary candidate. Particularly when the entire point of my post is that Newsome seems to be trying to condemn Netanyahu’s policy without actually having to do anything about it. > [@DrDeth](#): > > Nor does he have any power to make such changes. I am not trying to be rude or put you down but I think everyone already knows that the Governor of California has very little ability to change foreign policy of the US government. I have to assume that’s what you mean as arguing that presidential Candidates don’t have the power to cause policy changes is such a fringe position that I don’t think there is anything to say. ---
**Author:** ![Calder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e99b99/32.png) [@Calder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Calder)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2026, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/1625 "2026-03-04T23:37:40Z")
Hmm, my edit window is out but the process of writing those 4 points above has made me realize something else. At least for the Democratic primary. I will have the Isreal\Gaza and frankly the rest of the Middle East in my disqualifying attributes. ie if I feel a Democratic Candidate has that in their top 5 issues they want to solve than I am crossing them off my list of candidates I want to support. I am frankly sick of spending blood, treasure, and political capital on the region. I am not opposed to all foreign policies changes. I just don’t think they should be their top priorities. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2026, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/1626 "2026-03-05T01:46:11Z")
> [@Calder](#): > > And in the context of this thread this matters how? I have a hard time seeing how pointing this out makes any difference in the context of choosing the best Democratic primary candidate. There is a big difference. I support Israel, not Netanyahu. I support America- not trump. Netanyahu is rather unpopular in Israel (40% support), and VERY unpopular in the US (29%). Not liking Bibi is one thing, not liking Israel is quite another. ---
**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:** [March 5, 2026, 11:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/1627 "2026-03-05T11:25:27Z")
> [@Calder](#): > > And in the context of this thread this matters how? Because there’s going to be an election in Israel this summer or fall, so there’s a good chance Netanyahu will be gone long before the primaries begin. If that’s what Newsom is betting on, going after him now has no downside. ---
**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:** [March 5, 2026, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/1628 "2026-03-05T11:47:34Z")
Netanyahu may be gone, the political forces driving expansion/aggression might not. Whoever replaces BN might still be dependent on minority extremist parties. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2026, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/1629 "2026-03-05T20:54:47Z")
_Might_, but you have a good point. Only about 35 Members of the Knesset (out of 120) are considered to be “Religious conservative”, but if the new Coalition is short, they will need to suck up. However, some small concessions like having religious students, etc exempt from the draft may bring them in. Mind you, just what I read , I am not a expert. Anyone here know a lot about politics in Israel? ---
**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 5, 2026, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/1630 "2026-03-05T20:58:02Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > However, some small concessions like having religious students, etc exempt from the draft may bring them in. _Small concession_? This is quite literally _the_ central issue in Israeli right wing politics, it’s a massive schism between those who are primarily religious and those who are primarily right wing in a religious/right wing alliance. ---
**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 5, 2026, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/1631 "2026-03-05T22:27:16Z")
Yeah, Babale probably knows better, but IIRC the percentage of draft-age men in Israel who claim to be religious students is around 30%. It’s a pretty significant chunk of the draft pool. ---
**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:** [March 5, 2026, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/1632 "2026-03-05T22:39:53Z")
And the longer the war goes on, the more those who serve resent those who don’t. ---
**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 5, 2026, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/1633 "2026-03-05T22:42:03Z")
> [@Thing.Fish](#): > > Yeah, Babale probably knows better, but IIRC the percentage of draft-age men in Israel who claim to be religious students is around 30%. The numbers get complicated because there are other reasons for exemptions like health (Haredim are excused for medical reasons at twice the normal rate, for example - that would be because a Haredi kid with a condition might look at it as a ticket out of the army while a secular kid with the same condition might do everything possible to find a way to serve anyways rather than because a difference in rates of disqualifying conditions) - but the last estimate I saw showed about 68,000 Yeshiva students who would be drafted if they left the army. There have been massive protests in Jerusalem by the religious right and some have gotten violent. It’s easily one of the biggest domestic political issues right now because it threatens Netanyahu’s coalition. ---
**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 5, 2026, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/1634 "2026-03-05T22:48:16Z")
And for comparison, there are only about 170,000 active duty soldiers in the IDF. So yeah, almost a third of the potential enlistees. (looks at thread title) So anyway, about the US Presidential race… ---
**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 5, 2026, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/1635 "2026-03-05T23:25:03Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > 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) Ah geez, Babale, please don’t become that guy who starts ranting about trans athletes in discussions that have nothing to do with them! ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2026, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/1636 "2026-03-06T01:13:15Z")
> [@Thing.Fish](#): > > Ah geez, Babale, please don’t become that guy who starts ranting about trans athletes in discussions that have nothing to do with them! Sadly, that was already brought up by another poster who declared Newsom a bigot due to that podcast. And read Babale’s post again. ---
**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 8, 2026, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/1637 "2026-03-08T01:25:28Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > > [@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. He did clarify that this was indeed his meaning on a podcast interview (in response to a question where the interviewer really wanted him to call it a “genocide” and tried to butter him up into doing it). [https://share.google/pWiLObUzxaCYQtjXu](https://share.google/pWiLObUzxaCYQtjXu) ---
**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 23, 2026, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/1638 "2026-03-23T12:07:17Z")
Not sure about Pritzker yet, but he had a hilarious line on Saturday at the Gridiron Club: “As far as my own plans for 2028, here’s what I’ll say right now, I’m 100% focused on the people of Illinois,” Pritzker said. “That’s not just me talking. That’s also a 2006 quote from Barack Obama.” > **[Pritzker quips on weight loss, Rahm and 2028 buzz in Washington speech](https://chicago.suntimes.com/politics/2026/03/21/pritzker-quips-weight-loss-rahm-2028-buzz-washington-speech?utm_campaign=mrf-bluesky-chicago.suntimes.com&mrfcid=2026032269bfed2f793f935293a8b1bb)** > > Pritzker's speech at the annual Gridiron Club and Foundation dinner in the nation's capital comes amid speculation about his plans in 2028. Former Mayor Rahm Emanuel, another prominent Chicagoan fueling presidential rumors, also rubbed elbows at the... ---
**Author:** ![ShadowFacts](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shadowfacts/32/2934_2.png) [@ShadowFacts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShadowFacts)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2026, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/1639 "2026-03-23T13:53:36Z")
That’s quite funny and also a clear acknowledgement that he’s planning to run. Well played, gov! ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2026, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/1640 "2026-03-23T21:43:12Z")
Oh no, not Rahm Emanuel….🙄 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036.md?page=81) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036.md?page=83)