Right now, no Democrat has officially declared a 2028 presidential campaign, but there is a clear “shadow primary” of likely and loudly‑interested contenders lining up behind the scenes.

Quick Scoop: Who’s in the 2028 Democratic mix?

The big, obvious names

These are the people most often talked about by party insiders, polls, and media as future nominees.

  • Gavin Newsom – California governor, high national profile, positioning himself as a progressive but “competent” Trump foil, doing podcasts, national travel, and message-testing on issues like young men and red states.
  • Kamala Harris – Former vice president and 2024 Democratic nominee, publicly saying “I am not done,” keeping the option open for another run while rebuilding her image with a post‑campaign memoir and national appearances.
  • Gretchen Whitmer – Michigan governor, seen as a swing‑state executive with a strong record on abortion rights and infrastructure, often mentioned in lists of serious 2028 prospects.
  • Josh Shapiro – Pennsylvania governor, moderate‑leaning, big on bipartisanship in a must‑win swing state; often framed as an “electability” candidate.
  • Andy Beshear – Kentucky governor who wins in deep‑red territory, talks a lot about “talking with people, not at them”; intriguing to strategists who want a Democrat who can compete on red turf.

Other frequently mentioned politicians

They haven’t announced, but they show up again and again in “potential 2028 Democrats” lists, polls, and insider rankings.

  • Pete Buttigieg – Transportation secretary and 2020 candidate, still a national figure and often polled as a possible future nominee.
  • Cory Booker – New Jersey senator, former 2020 candidate, charismatic and nationally known.
  • J.B. Pritzker – Illinois governor, progressive, personally wealthy, highly active on national Democratic causes.
  • Wes Moore – Maryland governor, military background and compelling biography; seen as a rising star.
  • Tim Walz – Minnesota governor and 2024 vice‑presidential nominee, often listed among figures Democrats might consider in 2028.
  • Jared Polis – Colorado governor, libertarian‑ish streak on some issues, business background.
  • Roy Cooper – Former North Carolina governor, a southern moderate often floated for national office.
  • John Fetterman – Pennsylvania senator, high name recognition and a distinctive populist style.
  • Mark Kelly – Arizona senator, former astronaut, with appeal in a key Sun Belt swing state.
  • Elissa Slotkin – Michigan senator (and former House member), national security background.
  • Chris Murphy – Connecticut senator, prominent on gun policy and democracy issues.

Beyond elected officials

Some lists even toss in nontraditional or long‑shot figures.

  • Gina Raimondo – Former Commerce secretary and Rhode Island governor, seen as business‑friendly and competent on the economy.
  • Rahm Emanuel – Former Chicago mayor and Obama chief of staff, occasionally mentioned but more as an insider power broker than a likely nominee.
  • Media personalities / outsiders – Occasionally names like Stephen A. Smith pop up in speculative pieces more as a sign of how wide‑open the chatter is than as serious current candidates.

Important context: 2028 vs. “right now”

  • As of early 2026, this is all about 2028 , because the 2024 race is over and Donald Trump is now the sitting president after defeating Kamala Harris in 2024.
  • Most of the people above are in what reporters call the “chatter primary” or “shadow primary” —they are writing books, traveling to early states, starting podcasts, courting donors, and testing messages without filing official paperwork.
  • Polling of Democrats and Dem‑leaning independents shows Gavin Newsom and Kamala Harris as the two figures that the largest share of Democrats say they’d consider for a 2028 primary, with names like Ocasio‑Cortez, Buttigieg, Walz, and Sanders in a lower support tier.

Quick reference table (potential 2028 Democrats)

[3][5][1] [7][5][1] [5][1] [5][1] [7][5] [3][7] [1][5] [5][1] [3][1][5] [7][5]
Name Current/Recent Role How they’re talked about
Gavin Newsom Governor of California High-profile Trump foil; top “would consider” choice in Dem polls.
Kamala Harris Former VP, 2024 Dem nominee Says “I am not done,” keeps 2028 door open.
Gretchen Whitmer Governor of Michigan Midwestern swing‑state governor with national profile.
Josh Shapiro Governor of Pennsylvania Moderate image, bipartisan reputation in key swing state.
Andy Beshear Governor of Kentucky Democrat winning in deep‑red state; often cited as a dark horse.
Pete Buttigieg U.S. Transportation Secretary Past presidential candidate with continuing national presence.
Wes Moore Governor of Maryland Rising star with strong biography and national buzz.
J.B. Pritzker Governor of Illinois Progressive, wealthy, highly engaged in national Democratic politics.
Tim Walz Governor of Minnesota, 2024 VP nominee Often polled as a possible future nominee.
Cory Booker Senator from New Jersey Former 2020 contender, still on “potential 2028” lists.

Where this leaves your question

So if you’re asking “what Democrats are running for president” right now , the precise answer is:

  • No major Democrat has formally announced a 2028 presidential run yet.
  • The real story is a wide-open field where figures like Newsom, Harris, Whitmer, Shapiro, Beshear, Buttigieg, Booker, Moore, Pritzker, Walz, and others are clearly acting like future candidates—even if they haven’t filed the paperwork.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.