Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg is stirring speculation that he’s floating a potential bid to be the 2028 Democratic presidential candidate, after bowing out of local races this week.
The big picture: Democrats eyeing runs for the White House in 2028 have largely remained coy about their intentions, though their actions indicate they’re preparing for primaries.
- Potential top 2028 contenders include Buttigieg, California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Colorado Gov. Jared Polis.
- Here’s a closer look:
Pete Buttigieg
Buttigieg made his national ambitions clear when he launched an ultimately unsuccessful presidential run in 2020 while mayor of South Bend, Indiana.
- He served in the Biden cabinet as transportation secretary, where he was forced to contend with a pile-on of crises.
- Buttigieg was considered a strong contender in Michigan’s gubernatorial or Senate elections next year, but he ruled himself out of both races on Thursday.
Gavin Newsom
Newsom has long been considered a likely Democratic presidential candidate, and has been building a nationwide network of supporters and donors in recent years while garnering more national attention.
- After President Trump won the 2024 election, Newsom called for a special legislative session in California to raise money to prepare to challenge the Republican leader in the courts.
- He has pitched himself as a moderate in recent months and sought to broaden his appeal.
- In a recent conversation with right-wing influencer Charlie Kirk on the governor’s new podcast, Newsom broke with many Democrats when he said transgender athletes competing in girls’ and women’s sports was “deeply unfair.”
Rahm Emanuel
Emanuel, who served as the ambassador to Japan under former President Biden, has fueled speculation of a bid for president.
- The former Obama White House chief of staff has been making several public appearances sounding the alarm that Democrats must recalibrate their political strategies before the 2026 midterms.
- Emanuel joined CNN as a commentator last month and obtained a Washington Post column.
Tim Walz
Walz announced last month he will not run for Minnesota’s newly open U.S. Senate seat in 2026, potentially leaving room for a presidential run.
- The two-term governor and 2024 vice presidential candidate launched a national tour of town halls in Republican House districts, traveling the country.
JB Pritzker
Pritzker, a billionaire businessman, has been claiming the Democratic resistance lane in Illinois.
- He’s been boosting his national profile in recent years and has been on unofficial shortlists — including as a potential emergency replacement for then-President Biden after the disastrous first presidential debate last year.
Gretchen Whitmer
The Michigan governor has been a rising star in the Democratic Party and has positioned herself as a pragmatic, center-left leader since Trump’s win. She said she met with him this week to discuss jobs, tariffs and defense investments.
- In recent weeks, Whitmer has touted that she sent National Guard troops to the border to combat illegal immigration and said she’s open to some new tariffs to protect industry. She declined to join a multi-state federal lawsuit challenging Trump’s push to ban birthright citizenship.
- As governor, Whitmer has championed gun safety measures, abortion access and civil rights protections for LGBTQ+ residents. She launched a national political group in 2023 to boost her public profile.
Jared Polis
The popular two-term Colorado governor was among a handful of top Democrats under consideration as a possible replacement for Biden on the 2024 ticket.
- Polis, like Whitmer, has taken a centrist approach since Trump’s inauguration.
- He said in his State of the State address that he hopes Trump and Congress can work together “to secure the border, stop human trafficking and stop the illegal flow of guns and drugs … We welcome more federal help to detain and deport dangerous criminals.”
- The governor backed Trump’s controversial nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for Health and Human Services secretary.
Zoom out: Other potential contenders include Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear and Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy.
Between the lines: Top Democrats are divided on how to confront Trump, as the party faces an identity crisis following the 204 election.
- This time, there’s no consensus on strategy — and prominent Democrats are already taking different paths, Axios’ Alex Thompson reports.
Go deeper: Democrats eyeing 2028 split on how to tackle Trump