The race for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2028 intensified after the party won control of both the House and Senate, a bruising night for Donald Trump. Frustrations over high fuel prices, the Iran war and continued inflation swept the party to control of both chambers of Congress, setting up a showdown for Trump's final two years in the White House.
Registered Democrat voters will begin voting on their choice for president in January, with their pick set to go up against whoever the Republicans choose in their own primaries. Current favourites include Jon Ossoff, Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez, Gavin Newsom and Kamala Harris.
Jon Ossoff emerges as bookies' choice
Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff held the crucial swing state of Georgia last night and has emerged as the bookies' choice to make it onto the party's presidential ticket in 2028. That is despite him claiming as recently as August to have "no interest" in running for the presidency.
In his winning speech on Tuesday he slammed the "depravity, corruption and incompetence" of the Trump administration, telling supporters: "If at times [over] these last two years, amidst the ceaseless onslaught of brutality and indecency, you doubted whether our republic would survive, let tonight's results give you courage that the first light of dawn is on the horizon".
Ossoff has won fans among the party faithful for his ability to win over southern voters and his skilled speaking style, which has been compared to Barack Obama.
AOC and Newsom in the spotlight
Popular on the Democrats' left wing, Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez has been in the House of Representatives since 2019, and has long been expected to turn her social media-savvy operation into an eventual run for the White House. Whether that will come in 2028 is another question, though she appeared to be edging close in comments to the New York Times last month, when she said: "There's an argument that some make that this is a very unique political window and, oftentimes in politics, you do only get one shot." She was comfortably re-elected to New York's District 14 last night with 78% of the vote.
Another face recognisable to large numbers of the American public, governor of California Gavin Newsom has stood out as Trump's main Democrat political foe since the 2024 election, becoming the focus of the 47th president's lengthy rants on his Truth Social platform. It is this, alongside his high-profile position at the helm of one of America's most liberal states, that has propelled him to the front row of potential challengers in the next presidential race. The speculation even became the focus of one of Trump's barbs earlier this year, when Trump claimed him going public about having dyslexia meant he was "no longer a viable Presidential Candidate".
Kamala Harris tipped for another run
The former Vice President went face-to-face with Donald Trump last time around, when Joe Biden was forced to withdraw mid-race after a disastrous debate performance raised fears about his cognitive health. Harris lost - but has been tipped for a 2028 run ever since, with supporters arguing she didn't have enough time (only 15 weeks) to articulate her vision for the US and introduce herself to voters. She already has a solid support base ready to go - but whether the wider party will be convinced to give her another chance remains to be seen.
