Democrats preparing for 2028 presidential race in early voting states

Newsom signals 2028 POTUS run with Carolinas visit

California Governor Gavin Newsom met with potential voters in South Carolina this week, a traditional state where Democratic hopefuls for the presidency have begun campaigning in past elections. The move signals Newsom is interested in running for president in 2028.

Voters in some states are used to seeing political contenders months or even years before most of the country. 

But the political jockeying for the 2028 presidential election appears to be playing out even earlier this cycle. 

Democrats look to 2028 presidential election

Big picture view:

The first presidential primary votes won’t be cast for another two and a half years, but three Democratic presidential prospects are scheduled to campaign in South Carolina for 10 days this month:

• California Gov. Gavin Newsom
• Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear
• California Congressman Ro Khanna 

Gov. Gavin Newsom:

Newsom was referred to as a presidential candidate at one stop in his two-day South Carolina tour last week. Voters shouted "2028!" after he insisted he was there simply to strengthen the party ahead of the 2026 midterms. South Carolina has virtually no competitive midterm contests.

FILE - California Gov. Gavin Newsom shakes hands with attendees at the Kershaw County Center on Aging on July 8, 2025 in Camden, South Carolina. The governor is on the first of a two-day tour of rural counties in South Carolina, hosted by the state D

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Gov. Andy Beshear:

Beshear is term-limited as governor, and has acknowledged he’s considering a 2028 bid. He’ll spend two days touring South Carolina this week. 

Congressman Ro Khanna:

Khanna is a progressive aligned with the Bernie Sanders ’ wing of the Democratic Party, and will target union members and Black voters when he’s in the state a few days later with the son of a civil rights leader.

For context:

No one has officially announced themselves as a contender for the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination. 

2024 nominee Kamala Harris and running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, have also left open the possibility of running again.

Dig deeper:

With no clear front-runner, some Democratic operatives believe upwards of 30 high-profile Democrats could ultimately enter the 2028 primary — more than the party's overpacked 2020 field.

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Meanwhile:

The Democratic Party struggles to repair its brand, rebuild its message and fill a gap in leadership after losing the White House and both chambers of Congress in 2024.

What they're saying:

Texas Rep. Jasmine Crockett, a rising Democratic star, told the Associated Press earlier this year that presidential prospects "need to be more visible earlier" as party officials look to take cues from a new generation of leaders.

"What freaks most Democrats out is not really understanding who’s up next. Like, who’s got next?" she said. "And I think that that is really what people want most; they want their presidential nominee now."