# 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:** 94
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2026, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/1862 "2026-05-07T23:06:15Z")
> [@asterion](#): > > Nominating a sitting VP is about the most obvious worst decision a party can make regardless of the actual candidate. Is it? How many times was a president succeeded by someone other than their VP, of the same party? ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2026, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/1863 "2026-05-08T00:17:39Z")
> [@Paintcharge](#): > > While I love AOC, there is no way on this earth she would (I toggled back and forth between would and could) be elected president at this time. In November 2028, there’s no good-to-me reason to think AOC less electable than someone else with her views. Some low propensity voters would register and vote for her because of being female and/or Latino. She also would get some Green Party voters. How to net out the general election impact of being a Latino woman is impossible to say. However, I do not think he will get the nomination, and that is because of being a Latino woman. In the Democratic primaries, she would be running in the left lane. And people in the left lane think the U.S. is a racist sexist country that will not elect a brown woman. So she would ironically lose a lot of potential support from those who like her best. What about Klobuchar, Slotkin, Whitmer, and Harris? They would run outside that left lane, so their potential supporters are less likely to think America’s voters irredeemably sexist. They therefore have a better chance of nomination than AOC. Now, having a weaker chance is not the same as no way on earth. AOC could get the nomination if she monopolizes the left lane while the moderate lane splits between many candidates. ---
**Author:** ![Paintcharge](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/paintcharge/32/7946_2.png) [@Paintcharge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paintcharge)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2026, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/1864 "2026-05-08T00:49:45Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > AOC could get the nomination if she monopolizes the left lane while the moderate lane splits between many candidates. Yes, but taking the left lane will only get the nomination. What are the chances the left lane is a runway to presidency? Will enough “lefties” come out to vote her in in the general? I think Harris is done. The lefties won’t forgive her for not beating _that guy_ and she’s not getting any votes from the other side. But if she’s the nom, she will get 60 million+ votes. I just don’t think enough to win. Klobuchar, I could see getting some traction. I don’t have much knowledge about Slotkin and Witmer. Just a quick watch of Slotkin shows she is far more qualified that our current POTUS. I still think the nominee has to be a man, as much as hate that that is the way the US is right now. I would happily go and vote for any one of those women. ---
**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 8, 2026, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/1865 "2026-05-08T00:52:27Z")
I think AOC might have Obama-level charisma and communication skill. If so, and if she runs, she’ll definitely stand out and probably win the nomination. That’s what that kind of charisma does - it wins elections. But we’ll see. I could be wrong. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2026, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/1866 "2026-05-08T00:53:39Z")
> [@Paintcharge](#): > > I think Harris is done. Why then is she running neck and neck with Newsom in the Polls, with everyone else down in the single digits “who?” polling category? AOC could pull it off, I think maybe later tho. The only sure winner IMHO would be Michelle Obama, but she wont run. ---
**Author:** ![Paintcharge](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/paintcharge/32/7946_2.png) [@Paintcharge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paintcharge)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2026, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/1867 "2026-05-08T01:10:55Z")
Michelle Obama would probably make for a great president, but she has zero elected office experience. Which would be shouted to the clouds by the other side. Harris and Newsome are that high in the polls because of name recognition and voters (pollees) lack of keeping up with what’s happening. Newsome may be a potential winner of the general, but since _that guy_ has already developed a nickname for him…I dunno. Sorry, feeling cynical today. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2026, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/1868 "2026-05-08T01:13:20Z")
> [@Paintcharge](#): > > Yes, but taking the left lane will only get the nomination. What are the chances the left lane is a runway to presidency? I’m curious: in your scenario, is the left-lane candidate running against a relatively center-lane opponent in the general, or against someone who’s as far right as she is left? (Such that someone might say, _sure, taking the right lane might get the nomination, but…)_ ---
**Author:** ![Paintcharge](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/paintcharge/32/7946_2.png) [@Paintcharge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paintcharge)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2026, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/1869 "2026-05-08T01:29:12Z")
I don’t know. What are the chances the repubs run a center lane candidate? Who do they have? If they found a reasonable person they would likely win, just from the inertia of voters who have been checking **R** for so many years. And how f-ed is this country right now? I know none of the answers to these questions, I’m just a carpenter in upstate NY. ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2026, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/1870 "2026-05-08T01:45:00Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > How many times was a president succeeded by someone other than their VP, of the same party? It’s happened seven times: Madison Monroe John Quincy Adams Buchanan Hayes Garfield Taft Taft was elected in 1909, so it’s been quite a while. ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2026, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/1871 "2026-05-08T01:46:21Z")
> [@Paintcharge](#): > > Michelle Obama would probably make for a great president She doesn’t want the job. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2026, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/1872 "2026-05-08T02:24:13Z")
> [@Paintcharge](#): > > What are the chances the left lane is a runway to presidency? Will enough “lefties” come out to vote her in in the general? I’m the wrong person to ask. While a registered Democrat, I cannot see myself voting for a candidate who says the Israelis commit genocide, at least if they haven’t walked it back. But AOC could win. Graham Platner is ahead of Susan Collins in every Maine poll. Is this because Collins is a woman? Of course not. From my POV, too many voters want a fighter. Populist extremism is in the ascendent. But much may change in the next two years. P.S. Regarding Maine, I am not totally sure that’s a good example. Platner is the Democratic Paul LePage, and right-wing extremist LePage was their governor until 2019. So Maine may be a bit more hospitable to extremists than some other states. Don’t count on AOC to win a state like my Pennsylvania. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2026, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/1873 "2026-05-08T02:33:05Z")
> [@Jeff\_Lichtman](#): > > It’s happened seven times: What about Hoover, who succeeded Coolidge? They were both Republicans. ---
**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 8, 2026, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/1874 "2026-05-08T02:34:29Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > I’m curious: in your scenario, is the left-lane candidate running against a relatively center-lane opponent in the general, or against someone who’s as far right as she is left? (Such that someone might say, _sure, taking the right lane might get the nomination, but…)_ I’m not sure I’m reading this correctly. Are you suggesting there is a realistic chance the 2028 Republican nominee might be “relatively center-lane”? ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2026, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/1875 "2026-05-08T02:41:05Z")
> [@Paintcharge](#): > > but since _that guy_ has already developed a nickname for him…I dunno. That’s a mark of honor. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2026, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/1876 "2026-05-08T02:47:05Z")
> [@Thing.Fish](#): > > I’m not sure I’m reading this correctly. Are you suggesting there is a realistic chance the 2028 Republican nominee might be “relatively center-lane” Well, look: if Trump gets unpopular enough (which maybe isn’t that unlikely, given his current level of unpopularity) and dies in office (which also maybe isn’t that unlikely, given his health and his age), then: what positions would Vance propound? ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2026, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/1877 "2026-05-08T02:55:31Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > Well, look: if Trump gets unpopular enough (which maybe isn’t that unlikely, given his current level of unpopularity) and dies in office (which also maybe isn’t that unlikely, given his health and his age), then: what positions would Vance propound? Maybe- Vance did campaign once on how bad trump was, then quickly changed his mind.. or did he? ---
**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 8, 2026, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/1878 "2026-05-08T03:07:47Z")
I just started a new thread on the importance of experience. I’ve decided AOC is fine. She’s already been a high profile member of Congress for twice as long as Obama was. She’s probably as ready as she’ll ever be. ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2026, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/1879 "2026-05-08T04:12:37Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > What about Hoover, who succeeded Coolidge? They were both Republicans. Oops, you’re right. I don’t know how I missed that one. ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2026, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/1880 "2026-05-08T05:31:16Z")
How about Pritzker, the current governor of Illinois? ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2026, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/1881 "2026-05-08T12:27:20Z")
> [@Thing.Fish](#): > > She’s probably as ready as she’ll ever be. In terms of electability, she’s about the worst. She has no experience winning a tough general election. This is true of any conceivable blue state candidate, except for Andy Kim. But, in the abstract, I’d agree that AOC has enough experience to do what is an impossible job no matter how much experience you have. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036.md?page=93) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036.md?page=95)