At least a dozen Democrats haven't ruled out 2028 presidential run
At least a dozen high-profile Democratic politicians have not ruled out a potential presidential run in 2028, and there could be more names thrown into the mix as the primaries get closer.
In interviews and public appearances, governors, senators and former cabinet members including Gavin Newsom and Cory Booker have avoided saying "no" when asked about whether their future plans include a White House bid.
The Democratic Party has been in turmoil since then-Vice President Kamala Harris lost the 2024 presidential election to Donald Trump, allowing the formerly defeated president to head back to the Oval Office.
A number of strategists, analysts and pundits have suggested the party alienated moderate voters, while others claimed the party was not progressive enough. Whoever emerges as the party's next leader will take on the task of healing these divisions while trying to lead the party to victory.
Candidates do not traditionally announce presidential runs until after midterm elections, which will take place in November 2026, so whether or not these lawmakers formally declare their intention to run for the White House will likely become more clear then.
Newsweek has compiled a list of lawmakers who haven't publicly ruled out a presidential run in 2028.
Newsweek contacted representatives for these possible contenders by email for comment.
Potential 2028 Democratic contenders
1. Andy Beshear, Kentucky governor
Beshear, a Democrat that has had great success governing in a traditionally Republican state, told NBC News earlier this month that he may "take a look" at launching a presidential bid.
"I would have never considered this a couple years ago, but I will not leave a broken country to my kids or to anyone else's," he said. "And so if...I believe that I can heal the country, then I'll take a look at it."
He also recently told Vanity Fair: "Two years ago, I wouldn't have considered [running for president]...but if I'm somebody who could maybe heal and bring the country back together, I'll think about it after next year."
2. Gavin Newsom, California governor
Newsom has consistently been mentioned among the leading candidates in most polls of the 2028 primary. In June 2025, he told The Wall Street Journal: "I'm not thinking about running, but it's a path that I could see unfold."
3. J.B. Pritzker, Illinois governor
Pritzker has been noncommittal in the face of reporter's questions about his future plans. In June, he announced he was running for a third term as governor. He could hold that office and still run for president.
4. Jared Polis, Colorado governor
Polis has not explicitly ruled out a presidential run. When asked about his plans in February, he told POLITICO's Governors summit that he was "focused on being governor of Colorado" and there was "very little time" to think about things that would happen in the next few years.
5. Gretchen Whitmer, Michigan governor
Whitmer, a vocal Trump critic and a finalist to be President Joe Biden's VP pick in 2020, has a term-limit which expires in 2026.
In April, she was asked about her political future. She told Los Angeles Times reporter Jessica Gelt: "I know enough about myself to know I care desperately about where this country is headed...I want to be a part of that. I don't know that I need to be the main character in that story," the governor told Gelt on Sunday.
6. Josh Shapiro, Pennsylvania governor
Shapiro, a swing-state governor was also a finalist to be Harris' running mate, said in March 2025, when a guest on Real Time with Bill Maher, that he was "not an expert in the D.C. stuff."
"I live in the real world in Pennsylvania," he added.
7. Amy Klobuchar, Minnesota senator
In May, the Senator said she hopes the Democratic Party does not rule out selecting a female candidate to run for the White House after the Harris loss. Speaking to NBC's Meet the Press, she also did not rule herself out, but said, "I'm focused on my job right now."
8. Cory Booker, New Jersey senator
Booker, who ran for president in 2020, stirred presidential speculation again when he delivered a 25-hour filibuster speech in April. The longest Senate speech in U.S. history raised his profile, increased his standing in some polls and caused pollster Frank Luntz to position him as "one of the leaders for the Democratic Party for 2028."
He did not rule out a possible presidential campaign in April on NBC News' Meet the Press. "I'm focused on today and my reelection in '26," he said.
9. Mark Kelly, Arizona senator
Kelly was asked on Sunday if he was considering running for president.
While CNN's State of the Union host Jake Tapper said it was a "yes or no" question, Kelly didn't give a "yes or no" answer.
"That is a good question. I know you want a yes-or-no answer," Kelly said. "I'm not going to give you a yes or no. Because I'm just trying to do this job, get the word out to the American people."
10. Pete Buttigieg, President Joe Biden's transportation secretary
Buttigieg sad in May that he was considering a potential run. Speaking during a Substack Live interview with independent journalist Anand Giridharadas, he said he would "assess what I bring to the table and how it's different than the others." However, he noted that "any kind of decision process there is a long way off."
11. Gina Raimondo, President Joe Biden's commerce secretary
Raimondo, also the former governor of Rhode Island, has made it clear that she could be interested in a run in 2028. In April. she told a University of Chicago Institute of Politics event she was interested.
"I care deeply about this country, I've dedicated 15 years to public service and if I think there's a big way for me to serve again including running, I'll do it," Raimondo said. "But I also, if I thought somebody else would be better, or better able to win, I'd get behind that person in a minute."
12. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, New York Representative
Ocasio-Cortez, a progressive firebrand who has represented New York's 14th Congressional District since 2019, has made noise on possibly running in 2028 among social media pundits and political analysts.
She has posted campaign-style social media content which has made some people think she is paving the way for a possible White House campaign.
In April, she was asked about whether this was the case by a Fox News Digital reporter on Capitol Hill. She did not answer either way and merely joked: "because of my Instagram posts?"
Pressed further, she said: "Look, it's a video. Frankly, what people should be most concerned about is the fact that Republicans are trying to cut Medicaid right now and people's healthcare. It's a danger and that's really what my central focus is."
"To me, this moment is not about campaigns or elections or about politics. It's about making sure people are protected," she continued. "And we've got people that are getting locked up for exercising their First Amendment rights, we're getting two-year-olds getting deported into cells in Honduras, we're getting people about to get kicked off of Medicaid. That, to me, is the most important thing."
A number of other Democrats could get involved in what could ultimately end up being a crowded primary field. Other names that have been mentioned include former ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel, California Representative Ro Khanna, businessman Mark Cuban and even ESPN sports commentator Stephen A. Smith.