The 2028 presidential race starts now. These six Democrats just had a great night
The 2028 presidential race effectively begins now, and Tuesday’s midterms elections offered an early snapshot of the political strength for the potential Democratic Party’s potential White House contenders.
For some would-be candidates, the results strengthened their political standing and bolstered their case for becoming the party’s next standard-bearer.
Here’s a look at who emerged from Election Night with the most political capital.
The Georgia senator faced a consequential test in a state President Trump carried two years ago. And he didn’t just perform well, he exceeded expectations. Exit polling showed he grew his numbers with independent voters.
Even before he defeated his GOP opponent Mike Collins 63 percent to 37 percent, he was already being compared by some with a previous successful young Democratic senator who moved to the White House.
“Democrats pin hopes on the new Obama” a headline from The Telegraph ran hours before Ossoff’s victory.
The big question with Ossoff is whether he will run for the presidency.
Ossoff recently pledged that he would serve out his full six-year term in the Senate, and said he has no interest in running for president.
That sounds like something a Senate candidate with presidential aspirations is supposed to say on the reelection trail, but people in Ossoff’s orbit say it’s not just political-speak and that the senator truly does not want to run.
But Democratic donors and strategists say he would be pushed to change his mind.
Democratic strategist Steve Schale said Ossoff’s win will rocket him to top of many Democrats lists, and that the chattering class of donors and other operatives could pull him in.
“There’s so much room in the field for him right now,” he said.
The California governor made his state’s redistricting effort the centerpiece of his political strategy last year and it paid dividends on Tuesday night.
While some Republican redistricting efforts failed to materialize — in Florida for example — Newsom will be able to point to his success in helping Democrats gain seats as the vote count trickles in to the Golden State.
The results also highlight Newsom’s massive political network, which helped boost his redistricting efforts. Even before he leaves the governor’s mansion in January, he can tout these efforts as something tangible.
“He walked the walk,” one Democratic mega donor said. “He didn’t just talk the talk.”
Ocasio-Cortez won reelection as expected Tuesday night, but the race she was paying attention to was not her own but instead a Senate race in Michigan.
Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed’s was projected as the winner early Wednesday by The Hil’s partner Decision Desk HQ, and it’s a win that is a boon to Ocasio-Cortez and her presidential prospects.
Ocasio-Cortez invested in a big way in El Sayed’s campaign, donating $1 million in the race, and campaigning alongside him. His victory in a state Trump carried in 2024, gives Ocasio-Cortez and other progressives a new line that they can win anywhere — even in battleground states — something she has told Democrats privately in recent days.
Ocasio-Cortez has been weighing her options for 2028 — including a possible presidential campaign or a Senate bid in New York. But some Democratic strategists say El-Sayed’s win may push her over the edge.
The former Transportation Secretary wasn’t on the ballot on Tuesday, but he spent much of the midterm cycle crisscrossing the country, campaigning for Democratic candidates, more than many of his potential rivals.
He made more than 17 public campaign stops since Labor Day, according to National Journal.
Buttigieg, who now resides in Michigan, also helped raise money for candidates and state parties, building the foundation of contacts he needs to help launch a campaign.
On Election Night, Buttigieg, in a CNN appearance, was already trying to frame an economic argument, saying that Democrats needed to “come out of the gate quickly” with a plan “that makes Americans better off.”
The Pennsylvania governor cruised to a decisive victory in the swing state of Pennsylvania against Republican Stacy Garrity, in a race that was called as soon as polls closed.
Shapiro’s coattails were also effective, as a number of Pennsylvania won victories in House races, helping the party take the House majority by a comfortable margin.
The governor invested $10 million of his campaign war chest in an effort that helped flip four Republican-held congressional seats and help Democrats win control of the legislature.
“He’s been really underrated in recent months, mostly because he had to focus on winning his race, but I think he comes out of this in a super strong position if he tries to run for president,” one Democratic consultant said.
Tuesday’s results give Shapiro an argument to make on the campaign trail: Not only can he win in a key state but he’s been helpful to other Democrats in his state, too.
The Kentucky governor wasn’t on the ballot Tuesday, but he heavily benefited from the results.
As chairman of the Democratic Governors Association, Beshear — who was elected twice in ruby red Kentucky — he helped lead to a string of Democratic gubernatorial wins including in Republican-held states like Georgia, Ohio, Iowa and Texas.
“This was a huge night for him,” the Democratic donor said. “Governors — particularly moderate governors — had major wins and Beshear needs to get some credit for it.”
Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Read the full story at The Hill ↗
The 2028 presidential race effectively begins now, and Tuesday's midterms elections offered an early snapshot of the political strength for the potential Democratic Party's…
This lens runs the verified story through Cinnamon's AI — wired in the next step.
The 2028 presidential race effectively begins now, and Tuesday’s midterms elections offered an early snapshot of the political strength for the potential Democratic Party’s potential White House contenders.
For some would-be candidates, the results strengthened their political standing and bolstered their case for becoming the party’s next standard-bearer.
Here’s a look at who emerged from Election Night with the most political capital.
The Georgia senator faced a consequential test in a state President Trump carried two years ago. And he didn’t just perform well, he exceeded expectations. Exit polling showed he grew his numbers with independent voters.
Even before he defeated his GOP opponent Mike Collins 63 percent to 37 percent, he was already being compared by some with a previous successful young Democratic senator who moved to the White House.
“Democrats pin hopes on the new Obama” a headline from The Telegraph ran hours before Ossoff’s victory.
The big question with Ossoff is whether he will run for the presidency.
Ossoff recently pledged that he would serve out his full six-year term in the Senate, and said he has no interest in running for president.
That sounds like something a Senate candidate with presidential aspirations is supposed to say on the reelection trail, but people in Ossoff’s orbit say it’s not just political-speak and that the senator truly does not want to run.
But Democratic donors and strategists say he would be pushed to change his mind.
Democratic strategist Steve Schale said Ossoff’s win will rocket him to top of many Democrats lists, and that the chattering class of donors and other operatives could pull him in.
“There’s so much room in the field for him right now,” he said.
The California governor made his state’s redistricting effort the centerpiece of his political strategy last year and it paid dividends on Tuesday night.
While some Republican redistricting efforts failed to materialize — in Florida for example — Newsom will be able to point to his success in helping Democrats gain seats as the vote count trickles in to the Golden State.
The results also highlight Newsom’s massive political network, which helped boost his redistricting efforts. Even before he leaves the governor’s mansion in January, he can tout these efforts as something tangible.
“He walked the walk,” one Democratic mega donor said. “He didn’t just talk the talk.”
Ocasio-Cortez won reelection as expected Tuesday night, but the race she was paying attention to was not her own but instead a Senate race in Michigan.
Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed’s was projected as the winner early Wednesday by The Hil’s partner Decision Desk HQ, and it’s a win that is a boon to Ocasio-Cortez and her presidential prospects.
Ocasio-Cortez invested in a big way in El Sayed’s campaign, donating $1 million in the race, and campaigning alongside him. His victory in a state Trump carried in 2024, gives Ocasio-Cortez and other progressives a new line that they can win anywhere — even in battleground states — something she has told Democrats privately in recent days.
Ocasio-Cortez has been weighing her options for 2028 — including a possible presidential campaign or a Senate bid in New York. But some Democratic strategists say El-Sayed’s win may push her over the edge.
The former Transportation Secretary wasn’t on the ballot on Tuesday, but he spent much of the midterm cycle crisscrossing the country, campaigning for Democratic candidates, more than many of his potential rivals.
He made more than 17 public campaign stops since Labor Day, according to National Journal.
Buttigieg, who now resides in Michigan, also helped raise money for candidates and state parties, building the foundation of contacts he needs to help launch a campaign.
On Election Night, Buttigieg, in a CNN appearance, was already trying to frame an economic argument, saying that Democrats needed to “come out of the gate quickly” with a plan “that makes Americans better off.”
The Pennsylvania governor cruised to a decisive victory in the swing state of Pennsylvania against Republican Stacy Garrity, in a race that was called as soon as polls closed.
Shapiro’s coattails were also effective, as a number of Pennsylvania won victories in House races, helping the party take the House majority by a comfortable margin.
The governor invested $10 million of his campaign war chest in an effort that helped flip four Republican-held congressional seats and help Democrats win control of the legislature.
“He’s been really underrated in recent months, mostly because he had to focus on winning his race, but I think he comes out of this in a super strong position if he tries to run for president,” one Democratic consultant said.
Tuesday’s results give Shapiro an argument to make on the campaign trail: Not only can he win in a key state but he’s been helpful to other Democrats in his state, too.
The Kentucky governor wasn’t on the ballot Tuesday, but he heavily benefited from the results.
As chairman of the Democratic Governors Association, Beshear — who was elected twice in ruby red Kentucky — he helped lead to a string of Democratic gubernatorial wins including in Republican-held states like Georgia, Ohio, Iowa and Texas.
“This was a huge night for him,” the Democratic donor said. “Governors — particularly moderate governors — had major wins and Beshear needs to get some credit for it.”
Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Read the full story at The Hill ↗
The 2028 presidential race effectively begins now, and Tuesday’s midterms elections offered an early snapshot of the political strength for the potential Democratic Party’s potential White House contenders.
For some would-be candidates, the results strengthened their political standing and bolstered their case for becoming the party’s next standard-bearer.
Here’s a look at who emerged from Election Night with the most political capital.
The Georgia senator faced a consequential test in a state President Trump carried two years ago. And he didn’t just perform well, he exceeded expectations. Exit polling showed he grew his numbers with independent voters.
Even before he defeated his GOP opponent Mike Collins 63 percent to 37 percent, he was already being compared by some with a previous successful young Democratic senator who moved to the White House.
“Democrats pin hopes on the new Obama” a headline from The Telegraph ran hours before Ossoff’s victory.
The big question with Ossoff is whether he will run for the presidency.
Ossoff recently pledged that he would serve out his full six-year term in the Senate, and said he has no interest in running for president.
That sounds like something a Senate candidate with presidential aspirations is supposed to say on the reelection trail, but people in Ossoff’s orbit say it’s not just political-speak and that the senator truly does not want to run.
But Democratic donors and strategists say he would be pushed to change his mind.
Democratic strategist Steve Schale said Ossoff’s win will rocket him to top of many Democrats lists, and that the chattering class of donors and other operatives could pull him in.
“There’s so much room in the field for him right now,” he said.
The California governor made his state’s redistricting effort the centerpiece of his political strategy last year and it paid dividends on Tuesday night.
While some Republican redistricting efforts failed to materialize — in Florida for example — Newsom will be able to point to his success in helping Democrats gain seats as the vote count trickles in to the Golden State.
The results also highlight Newsom’s massive political network, which helped boost his redistricting efforts. Even before he leaves the governor’s mansion in January, he can tout these efforts as something tangible.
“He walked the walk,” one Democratic mega donor said. “He didn’t just talk the talk.”
Ocasio-Cortez won reelection as expected Tuesday night, but the race she was paying attention to was not her own but instead a Senate race in Michigan.
Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed’s was projected as the winner early Wednesday by The Hil’s partner Decision Desk HQ, and it’s a win that is a boon to Ocasio-Cortez and her presidential prospects.
Ocasio-Cortez invested in a big way in El Sayed’s campaign, donating $1 million in the race, and campaigning alongside him. His victory in a state Trump carried in 2024, gives Ocasio-Cortez and other progressives a new line that they can win anywhere — even in battleground states — something she has told Democrats privately in recent days.
Ocasio-Cortez has been weighing her options for 2028 — including a possible presidential campaign or a Senate bid in New York. But some Democratic strategists say El-Sayed’s win may push her over the edge.
The former Transportation Secretary wasn’t on the ballot on Tuesday, but he spent much of the midterm cycle crisscrossing the country, campaigning for Democratic candidates, more than many of his potential rivals.
He made more than 17 public campaign stops since Labor Day, according to National Journal.
Buttigieg, who now resides in Michigan, also helped raise money for candidates and state parties, building the foundation of contacts he needs to help launch a campaign.
On Election Night, Buttigieg, in a CNN appearance, was already trying to frame an economic argument, saying that Democrats needed to “come out of the gate quickly” with a plan “that makes Americans better off.”
The Pennsylvania governor cruised to a decisive victory in the swing state of Pennsylvania against Republican Stacy Garrity, in a race that was called as soon as polls closed.
Shapiro’s coattails were also effective, as a number of Pennsylvania won victories in House races, helping the party take the House majority by a comfortable margin.
The governor invested $10 million of his campaign war chest in an effort that helped flip four Republican-held congressional seats and help Democrats win control of the legislature.
“He’s been really underrated in recent months, mostly because he had to focus on winning his race, but I think he comes out of this in a super strong position if he tries to run for president,” one Democratic consultant said.
Tuesday’s results give Shapiro an argument to make on the campaign trail: Not only can he win in a key state but he’s been helpful to other Democrats in his state, too.
The Kentucky governor wasn’t on the ballot Tuesday, but he heavily benefited from the results.
As chairman of the Democratic Governors Association, Beshear — who was elected twice in ruby red Kentucky — he helped lead to a string of Democratic gubernatorial wins including in Republican-held states like Georgia, Ohio, Iowa and Texas.
“This was a huge night for him,” the Democratic donor said. “Governors — particularly moderate governors — had major wins and Beshear needs to get some credit for it.”
Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Read the full story at The Hill ↗
This lens runs the verified story through Cinnamon's AI — wired in the next step.
- The 2028 presidential race effectively begins now, and Tuesday's midterms elections offered an early snapshot of the political strength for the potential Democratic Party's…