Governing Experience Fuels 2028 Talk
With President Joe Biden term-limited, speculation about the 2028 Democratic nomination hovered over sidebar conversations. Kelly predicted the party’s eventual nominee will be a governor, asserting that “real leadership is coming out of the ranks of the governors.” Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, newly elected DGA vice chair, sidestepped questions about her own intentions, while California Gov. Gavin Newsom dismissed speculation about his ambitions, insisting the immediate priority is safeguarding electoral conditions in 2026.
Newsom warned that aggressive redistricting and election-administration moves by Republicans could narrow the path to a “free, fair election in 2028” unless Democrats retain or gain key governorships next cycle. He framed fundraising as central to that objective, telling donors that the DGA “can do extraordinary things” with sufficient resources.
Redistricting Front and Center
Redrawing congressional and legislative maps emerged as a critical defensive strategy. Newsom highlighted California Democrats’ decision to consider a constitutional amendment that could add up to five U.S. House seats for the party, a move he characterized as a response to Texas Republicans’ map-drawing efforts. Other attendees echoed the urgency. Wisconsin Democrat Mandela Barnes said he would be “more than open” to revisiting his state’s maps in pursuit of two additional Democratic seats.
Arizona’s significance went beyond hosting duties. Candidates from red and purple states expressed optimism that shifts similar to recent Tennessee and New Jersey results could translate into competitive bids elsewhere. Former Republican congressman David Jolly, now running for governor of Florida as a Democrat, pointed to independent voters and disaffected Republicans as potential coalition partners.
Kitchen-Table Focus in Campaigns
New Jersey Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill attributed her win to an unwavering concentration on day-to-day costs rather than constant references to Trump. She argued that voters respond when Democrats link tariff policies to the price of groceries and coffee. Iowa State Auditor Rob Sand, the lone statewide Democrat in his state and a 2026 gubernatorial contender, echoed that sentiment, saying he aims to “serve the people” rather than fit a party mold.
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Balancing Two Races at Once
Participants repeatedly noted they must wage dual campaigns: one to check Republican maneuvers they view as undermining electoral fairness, and another to establish their own viability for national leadership. Beshear summarized the challenge as converting short-term momentum into durable power before the 2026 cycle closes.
Outside analysts have observed that governors often enter presidential primaries with executive credentials and donor networks that legislators lack. According to the Brookings Institution, state executives historically leverage crisis management and budgeting experience into national campaigns, an advantage many Democratic attendees appeared ready to highlight should the primary field open fully in 2027.
Still, the Phoenix meeting underscored that most governors intend to present a united front until after the midterms. Whitmer summed up the prevailing sentiment: any Democratic governor, she said, could defeat the eventual Republican nominee if the party protects voting access and maintains its affordability pitch.
With fundraising drives accelerating and candidate recruitment under way, the DGA left Arizona determined to translate recent victories into an expanded map. Whether that effort produces a larger roster of Democratic governors—or the party’s next presidential nominee—will hinge on results in 2026, a contest attendees repeatedly described as a referendum on both economic messaging and the integrity of state-level election rules.
Crédito da imagem: Getty Images
