How Democrats' potential presidential contenders are scoping out different paths to 2028
Democrats are at a crossroads.
Democrats are at a crossroads. And different potential party leaders are already scoping out different potential paths back to power in a few years.
After the party lost November’s presidential election, its image has slipped to historic lows, and it lacks significant power in Washington to push back against President Donald Trump’s efforts to bend the federal government to his will — even as Democratic voters warm to the idea of an all-out fight against Trump.
It’s against that backdrop that key Democratic leaders are making early, yet important, moves about how to position themselves as the party looks toward a wide-open 2028 presidential race. Some seek to resist Trump at all opportunities, others concede victories to Republicans on cultural issues, and still more hope to split the difference — working with Trump when necessary and criticizing him when they disagree.
The early moves are, in many cases, nuanced and layered, and it’s clear that not everything these Democrats do should be viewed solely through the lens of potential presidential campaigns. Here’s a look at some of the high-profile ways key Democrats have been handling Trump and Republicans in the early months of the administration — and how those moves could set up future presidential campaigns.
Two days after Election Day, California Gov. Gavin Newsom convened a special legislative session that his office declared in a news release was intended to “safeguard California values and fundamental rights in the face of an incoming Trump administration.” And he has been vocally criticizing Trump over tariffs, asking countries to exclude California-made goods from retaliatory tariffs.
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