2028 Election Season Kicks Off After Midterm Results

The 2028 Race Starts Now, After Midterm Shake-Up

“America, tonight is the start of our comeback, baby.” New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker’s victory speech on Wednesday wasn’t just a line. It was the opening bell for the 2028 presidential election, which begins in earnest with the first primary votes little more than a year away. WHYY reported the midterm results have sent ripples through both parties, creating new frontrunners, clearing paths for others, and setting the stage for a battle over the future of the Republican and Democratic identities.

In Pennsylvania, Gov. Josh Shapiro delivered one of the night’s most impressive performances, securing a commanding win in a critical swing state while also helping his party take control of the state legislature and flip four congressional seats. When pressed by CBS’s Gayle King about his presidential ambitions, Shapiro laughed it off, deflecting the direct question with a focus on results. “I want to answer all your other questions, Gayle,” he said before turning to the party’s future. “People want fundamental change, real reform. More importantly, they want their leaders to get stuff done, they want real results.”

The Democratic Field Gathers Strength

Shapiro is far from alone. Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker both scored decisive reelection wins, cementing their status as major figures in the party. California’s outgoing Gov. Gavin Newsom, who spent the cycle boosting Democrats across the country, especially in the South, also played a pivotal role in flipping the House through Proposition 50, California’s response to the Texas Republican mid-decade gerrymander. The incoming Senate majority could elevate the profiles of figures like Georgia Sen. Jon Ossoff or even Sen.-elect Abdul El-Sayed from Michigan.

2028 Election Season Kicks Off After Midterm Results

Progressives hailed El-Sayed’s win in the Midwest as they privately deliberated over who could step into the progressive leadership role left open by Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, who at 85 has announced he will not seek another presidential campaign. With Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, at 85, having ruled out another presidential run, the party’s progressive wing is quietly searching for a new standard-bearer.

“This changes the 2028 presidential race,” said Adam Green, co-founder of the Progressive Change Campaign Committee. “A bold anti-establishment economic fighter can win battleground states. Period.”

Former Vice President Kamala Harris, the party’s 2024 nominee, made her intentions clear. She told The Associated Press she was “elated” by the Democrats’ performance, particularly across the South, and intends to play a central role in the party’s future, whether she runs or not. “I believe I have a responsibility to contribute to the direction of the party, in particular around lifting up voices and issues that I have an experience with,” she said. “Whether I’m in office or not, that’s the role I feel compelled to play.”

The 2028 election season begins as both parties navigate midterm fallout

Republican Path to 2028 Is Now Wide Open

If the Democrats are energized, the Republican party is at a crossroads. The midterm results were a “close to an extinction-level event for Republicans in many parts of the country,” according to outgoing Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. While his state bucked the trend, the GOP’s widespread losses have fundamentally altered the calculus for the 2028 nomination. It’s an opening for those who had been wary of former President Donald Trump and his influence.

The fallout has already begun to reshape the GOP field. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich pointed out that Vice President JD Vance, once seen as the frontrunner, has lost some of his “luster.” “If the administration had won a big victory, Vice President JD Vance would have had an enormous argument to be the inevitable nominee,” Gingrich wrote on social media. “Now … a good bit of the luster has come off the bloom.” He listed a half-dozen other Republicans who could now compete, noting that “the scale of the Republican defeat is so great that it makes the race for the GOP presidential nomination wide open.”

Cory Booker Calls for BOLD Action After Democrats' MASSIVE Midterm Election Victories

Trump’s fiercest critics feel vindicated. That includes New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who has been considering another presidential run. For some, like Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, who invested heavily in campaigns that ultimately failed, the path to the White House is already being openly weighed.

Not everyone is jumping into the fray. Rahm Emanuel, who has spent the past year laying the groundwork for a potential run, took a different tone. “Don’t worry about the next election,” he said in an interview. “There’s a time and a season. And right now is the governing time.”

The Stakes of a New Political Era

For millions of Americans, this isn’t just a political game. The results of these early maneuvers will shape policy on everything from healthcare and the economy to national security and social issues. The deep bench of Democratic governors who won on Tuesday—from Shapiro in Pennsylvania to Moore in Maryland—have now demonstrated an ability to win in purple and even red-tinged states.

On the Republican side, the internal conflict is now undeniable. The campaign has officially begun, and the first real test is just over a year away.

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