Who would you like to see run for president in 2028. Do you have a favorite?

[red dog 1]

(If your choice is not listed here, please name him or her in a comment)

Related:
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100221234901

131 votes, 9 passes | Time left: Unlimited
	CA. Gov. Gavin Newsom
	23 (18%)
	Former Vice President Kamala Harris
	9 (7%)
	Pete Buttigieg
	12 (9%)
	Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY)
	13 (10%)
	Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker
	22 (17%)
	Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro
	2 (2%)
	Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn)
	6 (5%)
	Gov. Andy Beshear (KY)
	7 (5%)
	Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ)
	36 (27%)
	Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn)
	1 (1%)
	9 DU members did not wish to select any of the options provided.
Show usernames Disclaimer: This is an Internet poll

[The Blue Flower]

1. Former WA governor Jay Inslee

A smart, caring servant of the people.

[maxsolomon]

34. Jay's done.

After shepherding WA State through the pandemic, I think he's had enough. Antivax crazies were driving protest convoys of honking pickup trucks past his house.

Plus, he's 75.

[genxlib]

39. You could have led with 75

That is a disqualifier for me.

We have seen where that leaves us.

My personal cutoff is 65 because I want to get 10 years out of them and done at a max age of 75. That is 2 years of campaigning and 8 years to serve.

[maxsolomon]

42. OMG YOU AGEIST

[genxlib]

43. If it helps

I will volunteer to be done in my career by then.

[DFW]

49. Speak for yourself, John

I’m 74, and retirement isn’t even at the edge of my radar screen. Since Monday, my week has been Barcelona-Madrid-Paris-Brussels-Düsseldorf. I have a working mini convention over in Duisburg on Saturday, and then in the evening, my wife and I will run down to Köln (Cologne) for a German-American July 4th party. Monday over to Holland, etc. I think if I retired, I’d die of boredom inside of two months—either that, or I’d get used to it, and I don’t know which would kill me first.

[genxlib]

51. I don't want to stop being active

I just want to stop the grind that I on.

I used to think I would work till I dropped but I have really come to dislike my job in the last few years.

I will always be doing something but want to step back from this.

Either way, I won't be commanding an army with nuclear weapons and the multitudes of the other things that a President does.

I think that sets a bar of its own.

[DFW]

46. He is who I wanted in 2019

I don’t have a great track record, needless to say!!9

[3catwoman3]

2. Or Jon Ossoff.

I find him most impressive.

[Ars Longa]

18. Where is Ossoff?

[allegorical oracle]

41. Wondered that, too. nt

[TBF]

30. YES - he is my fave currently

young guy with so much talent - reminds me of Obama

[RandomNumbers]

44. I could go with Ossoff for sure.

Of those listed, Kelly #1, Newsom #2.

[yourout]

3. Someone that can win the Midwest.

[Auggie]

27. That would Mark Kelly, IMO

[Beringia]

4. Kick

[EdmondDantes_]

5. I don't have a singular favorite, but I have 3 who are in the lead

In alphabetical order

Pete Buttigieg
Gretchen Whitmer
Jon Ossoff

[BluenFLA]

6. Some good choices here

For now my list includes

AOC
Pritzker
Newsom
Harris
Ossoff
and believe it or not I like Hunter Biden but no way will that happen.

[RandomNumbers]

29. No way AOC will happen in the USA as it exists.

I wish our system worked better in the sense that it would be great for her to be getting her ideas out there. She's quite impressive.

But no way, no how would AOC actually become President in this fucked-up electorate ( + electoral college and plurality vote in most states). I have no issues with her running in the primary as long as someone electable is chosen, AND she gets on board IMMEDIATELY and COMPLETELY with taking back this country from the filth that is currently running it - even if the nominee is far from perfect.

[rampartd]

52. aoc is in a good spot right now

she might be a good cabinet pick some day.

i think aoc would be a far better choice than trump or either of their choices, but this is still 'murka.

kelly can win and maybe kick the country in a decent direction.

[Deuxcents]

7. I want an impressive win for the midterms and then I'll think about the general elections

[Mossfern]

8. My daughter is a government worker in CA

as a scientist.

She hates Newsom.

[SocialDemocrat61]

11. Why?

Just curious.

[Mossfern]

13. He went back on the union contract

that was already signed. Horrendous working conditions - "supervisors" checking on employees, monitoring them- really checking though, like peeking into cubicles to make sure that workers are in their seats. (not an issue for my kid because she often works in the field)
The mandatory in office hours would not be a big deal if the workers had offices to go to - break room, meeting rooms etc have been converted to cubicles - and there still isn't enough room for everyone. I'll link an article. Some had remote work contracts and live as far as 100 miles away from their office. BTW, there is not natural light in these buildings - just florescent ballast lights. (yeah, I know not a big deal unless you're forces to work there)

This a rather lengthy one with a history:
https://capsscientists.org/action-budget-and-rto-updates/

AI info:

AI Overview Governor Gavin Newsom did not legally break the ratified contract for state scientists. Rather, his administration and the California Association of Professional Scientists (CAPS), which affiliated with the UAW, have been locked in severe ongoing disputes over budget reductions and strict return-to-office (RTO) mandates.The friction between the Newsom administration and UAW-represented state scientists centers around several key issues:Return to Office (RTO) Mandates: The Newsom administration pushed mandates requiring many state employees to work in person up to four days a week. The union argues this violates previous telework agreements and places an undue financial burden on scientists.Budget Reopening Requests: The state previously attempted to approach the union to renegotiate economic provisions and budget reductions. The UAW pushed back, arguing the contract was binding through July 2027 and that attempting to bypass the agreed-upon terms undermines collective bargaining.State Funding Cuts: Tension peaked amidst threats of federal research cuts, with UAW members rallying at the California State Capitol to demand the Governor prioritize and place the California Health & Science Research Bond on the ballot.The state scientists' Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) remains in effect, and the union actively updates its members on defending telework stability and fighting budget rollbacks on the CAPS UAW Updates Page.6 sitesACTION: Budget and RTO Updates - CAPS, UAW Local 1115Jul 1, 2025 — CAPS-UAW negotiated our current MOU in good faith, after four years without a contract. We received no general salary increases in...CAPS, UAW Local 1115Know Your Rights: Telework Agreements - CAPS, UAW Local 1115Jun 28, 2025 — When CalHR reached out to us in May, asking us to come back to the bargaining table to negotiate over budget reductions, our respo...CAPS, UAW Local 1115California agencies told to prepare for four-day office weekMay 13, 2026 — Gallegos reiterated Newsom's original motivation for the policy, which states that the benefits of in-person work include “enhance...Sacramento BeeShow allAI responses may include mistakes. Learn more

From what I discern this has something to do with Newsom's deal with Anthropic somehow.
I'll get a clearer understanding once my kid calms down enough to explain to me without going off if I ask questions.
BTW this "kid" is in her 40's, not a hot headed teen.

[QueerDuck]

9. The one I "like" is probably not the one who can win. So I vote strategically...

... not emotionally. Aside from that, it's too early for me to make that decision.

[red dog 1]

14. You've piqued my interest. Who is it that you "like"?

[who "is probably not the one who can win"]

[Melon]

10. Mark Kelly. I want Mark Cuban to run.

[obamanut2012]

53. Cuban is neither a Democrat nor a liberal

[Melon]

57. He is independent. He voiced support for Harris

And is known to be socially liberal although physically more conservative. I have said for years that I believe that he would be a good presidential candidate.

[gab13by13]

12. Miles Taylor

Malcolm Nance - Vice President

Whoever is the baddest ass.

[krawhitham]

17. You're picking a Forward Party Candidate over a Democrat?

[EnergizedLib]

15. I myself want to run for 2028

I just don’t have the money on hand.

[DFW]

50. I can lend you $50 if you need some start-up capital

I do NOT want myself to run for President. No way. I say what is on my mind much too often, and I usually only change my mind when someone smarter than I am shows me why I should. Who wants a president like that?

[krawhitham]

16. Dream ticket: Pete Buttigieg/Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

People I would rather not run: Newsom, Harris, Kelly

[red dog 1]

64. I like Buttigieg/AOC or Kelly/AOC

Why not Kelly?

[BH liberal]

19. Harris doesn't...

have a prayer of winning. She's Black and a woman. That, unfortunately, is still a double-whammy in Upside Down America. AOC has them all beat as a human being and a politician, but she will likely slow-track it through the Senate first. Maybe we will be ready for her by the 2030's.

[angrychair]

59. So only White, Christian males need apply?

How exactly does that help change anything by just feeding into the racism and misogyny?

Serious question, not picking a fight, so you really think the way forward for the Democratic Party is to shut women and people of color out of leadership positions?

[Emile]

20. 'Capitalism isn't working': Chris Murphy

[Ars Longa]

21. There are a bunch of YouTube 2028 Dem President Ranking vids out there:

Here is a random pretty good one: (Start at 6min)

?t=287

[betsuni]

22. Both parties should run babies.

For Trump voters it wouldn't be much different than now.

It'll placate those demanding Democratic candidates be young new blood, no experience, outsider, anti-establishment, change, socialist (and babies scream a lot). Of course, it's back to status quo Democrat-bashing if AIPAC spends any money getting the infant Democratic candidate elected. That baby's going down #Dimwitted.

[Aristus]

23. Newsome/Buttigieg.

I really want a woman to be President. But I think that's going to be on hold for quite a while now. We got lucky with Barack Obama. But his term as President drove so many already ax-crazy right-wing shitheads around the bend that it has polluted any chance of a woman getting elected any time soon.

[3catwoman3]

45. "...ax-crazy right-wing shitheads..."

That's some potent phraseology right there - I like it!

And although it pains me to say it, having 2 X chromosomes of my own, I agree that we can't afford to run a woman again right now. The lower Democratic turnout last time around shows that some members of our own party would not vote for a woman.

[kentuck]

24. I would prefer a candidate that understands the historical moment we are in...

Not just one that makes good political speeches and promises to give people more.

I want a president that understands the problems and looks to re-establish justice in our society.

Nothing can succeed with an unjust society.

I would prefer a President that understands he needs a Cabinet willing to tackle the problems and will take on the powerful.

I do not want a President that does not have a grasp of the big picture.

Our country is under threat by a domestic enemy. I want them to take on that enemy.

[kentuck]

25. I won't say which...?

but I think about 6 names on your list are too naive to be president at this time. They will only be a placeholder until the next tyrant comes along.

[marble falls]

26. Someone who could clearly win.

[Ponietz]

28. Anyone but a centrist.

It’s why we lose.

[TBF]

31. Jon Ossoff is my pick

[LetMyPeopleVote]

32. I like Kelly but would be happy with several of the others

[31j20b3]

33. I think all the govs and vp Harris have the experience needed

I'm not really a fan of Pennsylvania Gov's... not because of Shapiro but because E. Rendell really put me off, and the freedom with which he lied about Midwestern need to develop public transportation and modernized rail systems Ya Ed, the Midwest does get Ag money...but then SO DOES PENNSYLVANIA and that never stopped Pennsylvania from benefitting from upgrades to Amtrak.

But I do think someone who has run a large complex state has important experience. Shapiro has that

[maxsolomon]

35. Charisma and looks win.

When we won the Presidency, we won it with charisma and looks. Clinton, Obama both have magnetic personalities. They're both handsome.

MFer, too, has Charisma, but it's malignant. As repulsive as we find him, he photographs well and looks good on camera. His clown costume (makeup, clown hair, lifts in his shoes...) is part of how he's manufactured that attractive persona (attractive to gullible idiots).

Who in this poll has charisma and looks? You know who.

[dweller]

36. The D

it’s early and I’m not going to commit to any one candidate at this point .
I want to hear from them all eventually .
Hell someone may turn up that surprises us all …



✌🏻

[biocube]

37. My list.

1. Ro Khanna
2. Abdul El Sayed
3. AOC
4. Graham Platner

[CrispyQ]

38. The one who promises to go after these corrupt fucks & not look forward.

The one who promises to appoint a bulldog to AG, & hold them accountable for investigating every cabinet member & every ass-sucking congressperson who looked the other way while Donnie was shitting all over the Constitution. That's who I want.

on edit: Right now I'm leaning toward Chris Murphy or Jon Ossoff.

[Nanjeanne]

40. How about a robust primary with candidates explaining their vision, their policies they are willing to fight for

and then making an informed decision? That’s what I look forward to. Cant imagine having a choice until I know what the candidates are will to push for and what their vision for America is.

[BluesRunTheGame]

47. Skinner/Walt Starr 2028!

[Coventina]

62. lol!

[duckworth969]

48. Jon Ossoff

[DFW]

54. There are a few about whom I'd like to know more before answering that

Newsom, Pritzker especially. What do they know? What do they want? What would they do? What do they know about the world outside the USA? I lack the info to make an informed decision so far.

Confident that they could step right in there? Buttigieg, Kelly, Klobuchar. I don’t think Klobuchar could amass a base big enough, but I think she could do it. Buttigieg has the smarts and Cabinet background, can hold his own in a discussion. Kelly is one of the two mentioned that I know. Yes, he could do it. Ne sweat. Really important: he would combine idealism with pragmatism, and he’s hard to rile. With Trump, you point out that he has a hair out of place, and he reacts like stepped on a tack. Mark is the opposite.

I don’t get the impression that AOC knows enough of the world yet.

Harris—my position on her remains what it was since 2017: any Senator who trashed Al Franken and never apologized to him is no one I want as our presidential nominee. Not Harris, not Sanders, not Warren, not Booker, etc. If any of them become our nominee anyway, of course, I will fervently support the ticket as I did in 2024. But as long as she is not the nominee, that’s how I want it to stay.

Jon Ossoff? I have known him for almost ten years, and liked him immensely from day one. I still think he must have the highest IQ in the Senate. Huge appetite for learning, compassionate, solid, probably less familiar with the world stage at this point, but we have no faster learner (exception is maybe Buttigieg). He has NO interest in entering the race for now, but the Siren’s lure is strong. We’ll see. Definitely the first presidential possibility I’ve had on speed-dial since Howard Dean, and Howard’s run was over 20 years ago! Hard to stay objective about Jon. He’d be a brilliant president. Don’t know yet if he’d be a brilliant nominee, but I suspect he would be if he wanted to—BIG “if,” though.

[LeftInTX]

55. Newsom reminds me of a car salesman.

" Hi, I'm Gavin Newsom, California's first ever governor to be sponsored by Just For Men Touch of Grey. Experience has never looked so good"

From a parody video.

[bcbink]

58. Pritzker or Newsom

with Jon Ossoff. I cannot decide between Newsom or Pritzker, however, Ossoff as VP would be perfect for 16 years. We would need that much.

[angrychair]

60. Seeing so many corporate/centrists Dems

Getting the majority of support here on DU is incredibly disappointing.

So many people speaking out against potential candidates just because they are women or people of color is also very disappointing.

If this is representative of the Party as a whole then we have learned nothing and do not understand the change brewing in the Party and we will get torched in the presidential election.

[Nanjeanne]

61. Not that many have participated. There's many more probably that feel as you do.

[jcboon]

63. Who we like and who would win are 2 different conversations

We really need someone who understands government and has enough brains to fix what's been f'ed up.
Name recognition is what wins elections.