Gavin Newsom California

The Issue Of Age And Potential Democratic Presidential Contenders In 2028

Ronald 7 Comments

The issue of age is a consideration as Democrats plan for the upcoming Presidential nomination process for the Presidential Election of 2028, once the Midterms in November are resolved.

With the last two Presidents being the oldest nominees and Presidents in American history, and the reality of signs of aging that have been exposed about both Joe Biden and Donald Trump, age is definitely an important consideration.

So this author and blogger has done research into the present age of the list of 25 potential contenders discussed two days ago on this blog.

Of course, the age of all 25 will increase by three years until the inauguration on January 20, 2029, so that is a consideration beyond the momentary statistics at this point of time.

Presently, there are two potential contenders who are in their late 30s–Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (36) and Jon Ossoff (39), so Ocasio-Cortez would still be under age 40 at the time of the inauguration, while Ossoff would be early 40s at nearly age 42, still in either case, the youngest President in American history.

Six of the potential Presidential contenders are presently in their 40s, bringing back the memory of John F. Kennedy, Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama. Presently, they are Pete Buttigieg (44), Ruben Gallego (46), Wes Moore (47), Andy Beshear (48), Elissa Slotkin (49), and Ro Khanna (49). Of course, by Inauguration Day 2029, only Buttigieg and Gallego will still be under 50.

Eight of the potential Presidential contenders are presently in their 50s, including Jared Polis (50), Josh Shapiro (52), Chris Murphy (52), Gretchen Whitmer (54), Cory Booker (56), Raphael Warnock (56), Josh Green (56), and Gavin Newsom (58). All would still be under the age of 60, except Newsom, on Inauguration Day 2029.

Finally, nine of the potential Presidential contenders are presently in their 60s, including Mark Kelly (61) Kamala Harris (61), JB Pritzker (61), Jon Stewart (63), Jamie Raskin (63), Adam Schiff (65), Rahm Emanuel (66); Chris Van Hollen (67), and Mark Cuban (67).

So both Chris Van Hollen and Mark Cuban would be past the age of 70 on Inauguration Day, and Adam Schiff and Rahm Emanuel would reach age 70 during their four year term in office.

It is likely some of this long list of 25 contenders will end up not announcing, but this analysis of age is enlightening for discussion!

Speculation Begins On Potential Democratic Presidential Contenders

Ronald 6 Comments

It is nine months until the Midterm Elections of 2026 for Congress, and state and local government.

But already, speculation has begun on who might run for the Democratic Presidential nomination in 2028, and the list is long, and not just the usual speculated candidates.

Among those assumed to be likely to run are, in no special order:

Former Vice President Kamala Harris
California Governor Gavin Newsom
New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
Former Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer

But beyond these much speculated potential candidates, there is a much longer list of others, in no special order:

Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy
Maryland Governor Wes Moore
Former Chicago Mayor and Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel
California Congressman Ro Khanna
New Jersey Senator Cory Booker
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear
Georgia Senator Jon Ossoff
Maryland Congressman Jamie Raskin
Arizona Senator Ruben Gallego
Billionaire Entrepreneur Mark Cuban
Arizona Senator Mark Kelly
Michigan Senator Elissa Slotkin
Hawaii Governor Josh Green
Georgia Senator Raphael Warnock
Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen
Comedian and Political Commentator Jon Stewart
Colorado Governor Jared Polis
California Senator Adam Schiff

So the total potential list is at least 25 candidates, and who knows, if someone not on this list joins the fray!

There are 8 Governors on the list; 9 US Senators; 3 House members; two former Mayors and Cabinet members or Ambassadors; two outside government leaders; and former Vice President Kamala Harris.

And the list is extremely diverse in nature, including:

4 Women
6 White Male Christian
2 Latinos
4 African Americans
1 Hindu
11 Jews
2 Gays
2 Outside of Government

Incumbent Democratic Gubernatorial Races In 2026 And Potential Of Democratic Gubernatorial Presidential Nominee In 2028!

Ronald 5 Comments

Many Democratic Governors are seeking reelection, and are in good shape to win in November 2026.

This includes the following Incumbent Governors:

Arizona–Katie Hobbs
Connecticut–Ned Lamont
Hawaii–Josh Green
Illinois–JD Pritzker
Maryland–Wes Moore
Massachusetts–Maura Healey
New York–Kathy Hochul
Oregon–Tina Kotek
Pennsylvania–Josh Shapiro
Rhode Island–Dan McKee

Included in the above list are three Governors who are perceived as likely Presidential contenders for the Democratic Party in 2028—JD Pritzker, Wes Moore, and Josh Shapiro.

Three “retiring” Democratic Governors are also seen as likely to be Presidential contenders:

California—Gavin Newsom
Colorado—Jared Polis
Michigan—Gretchen Whitmer

There certainly is no lack of qualified and competent Governors in the Democratic Party, and the odds that a sitting or former Governor might be the Democratic Presidential nominee in 2028 is quite high!

The Upcoming California Gubernatorial Race In 2026

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California, the largest state in population, with 39 million people, will have a new Governor elected in 2026, as two term Governor Gavin Newsom, is term limited, but will certainly be pursuing the Democratic nomination for President in 2028, with many early polls indicating he is the frontrunner at this point.

California has been a reliably Democratic state since the 1990s, so although Republicans will contest the election, the odds are very heavy against any opportunity for success.

There are a multitude of potential candidates in both parties, with the Republicans’ most likely choice seen as probably Steve Hilton, a political commentator for Fox News Channel, and who in the past, worked for the British government.

Former Vice President Kamala Harris, the losing Presidential nominee in 2024, decided NOT to seek the Governorship, and is still considering a Presidential campaign for 2028.

The Democrats have many potential candidates, but the two that stick out the most are former Congresswoman Katie Porter, former candidate for the US Senate in 2024, and Congressman Eric Swalwell, with Swalwell at this point in the lead in public opinion polls.

But Xavier Becerra, former Secretary of Health and Human Services under President Joe Biden, and former California Attorney General; and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, cannot be ignored.

The view of this author and blogger is that Eric Swalwell would be the best, most electable Democrat, although before his entrance into the race, Katie Porter was seen as the frontrunner.

Kamala Harris Memoir Burns Bridges, Likely Insures End Of Political Career!

Ronald 2 Comments

Former Vice President Kamala Harris, by publishing a memoir with strong statements about many political leaders she has worked with, is likely burning her bridges, making it highly doubtful that she will ever again hold public office.

History records that once a Presidential nominee has lost election to the White House, the odds are extremely high that such individual will never be President.

There are only six cases of a defeated Presidential nominee going on to be elected President–three before the Civil War, once in the Gilded Age, once in the mid 20th century, and finally, Donald Trump.

Two of the cases–Grover Cleveland and Donald Trump– won the Presidency, then lost, and then returned, so unusual and special cases. In the case of Cleveland, he won in 1884, lost in 1888, and won in 1892. Trump won in 2016, lost in 2020, and won in 2024.

The three before the Civil War were Thomas Jefferson, who lost in 1796 and won in 1800; Andrew Jackson, who lost in 1824, and won in 1828; and William Henry Harrison, who lost in 1836 and won in 1840.

Finally, Richard Nixon lost in 1960, but then won in 1968 and 1972.

So the odds of Harris coming back are very low, but additionally, by being critical of Joe and Jill Biden and the Biden Staff, and stating her reasons for not selecting Josh Shapiro or Pete Buttigieg as her Vice Presidential running mate instead of Tim Walz, has caused controversy and a sense of anger by those individuals and others.

And it is generally well known that Kamala Harris was not an easy person to work for, losing staff regularly in the Senate and the Vice Presidency.

One gets the feeling from her appearance on Rachel Maddow, and on “The View”, that she does not seem to have the “fire in the belly” to compete in another strenuous Presidential campaign.

It would have been easier for Harris to have run for California Governor, with assurance of an easy victory, and a major role in the largest state’s impact in reaction to Donald Trump and the Republican Party, just like Gavin Newsom is now waging.

So it seems clear this is the end of any serious “comeback” by Kamala Harris to national politics.

Instead, she is on a major speaking tour to promote her book, and to spread the argument of strong opposition to the horrors of Donald Trump, but not a formal national or state role in that effort.

Democratic Governors Rich Mine For Presidency!

Ronald 9 Comments

It turns out that in the midst of the Trump Authoritarian Crisis the nation faces, that it is much more Democratic Governors than Democratic members of Congress who are actively on the attack against the abuses perpetrated by ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement), and the utilization of the National Guard in Washington DC, Los Angeles, and threatened expansion to Chicago and other “Blue” cities and states.

In so doing, the following group of Governors are raising attention as leading potential Democratic Presidential contenders for 2028, including

Gavin Newsom of California
JD Pritzker of Illinois
Wes Moore of Maryland
Andy Beshear of Kentucky
Tim Walz of Minnesota
Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan
Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania

In addition, other Democratic Governors, although not seen as likely Presidential contenders, are actively challenging the Trump policies including:

Kathy Hochul of New York
Ned Lamont of Connecticut
Jared Polis of Colorado
Katie Hobbs of Arizona
Maura Healey of Massachusetts
Phil Murphy of New Jersey
Josh Stein of North Carolina
Tony Evers of Wisconsin

Trump Threatening To Have Federal Government Seize Control Of Washington DC Government And NYC Government!

Ronald 13 Comments

For a President who promotes the idea of the states being responsible for many issues that governments must deal with, it is highly disturbing and alarming that he is threatening to have the federal government seize control of Washington, DC, taking away their local control of government that has existed since the 1970s.

Trump is also threatening that if Zohran Mamdani is elected NYC Mayor, that he might take measures to seize control of the government of the largest city in America.

And, already, with the National Guard in California controlled by Trump over the opposition of Governor Gavin Newsom to the mass deportation efforts continuing in Los Angeles, the nation is in a crisis of Trump grabbing power where he has no constitutional authority to do so.

Trump Calling Out Marines For Domestic Use, And Threatening Arrest Of Gavin Newsom Totally Beyond The Pale!

Ronald 7 Comments

President Donald Trump’s decision to call out the Marines for domestic use in Los Angeles to back up deportation raids, and his threat to arrest California Gavin Newsom, has escalated the crisis of Trump moving toward authoritarianism!

The possibility of the invoking of the Insurrection Act, when there is no rebellion or invasion, is horrifying, and moves America close to a true Fascist dictatorship, reminiscent in many ways to Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy.

And yet, millions of Americans seem content, as their racism, nativism, and lack of concern about anyone other than their selfish selves, is demonstrated for all to see.

The worship of money, and prejudice toward immigrants shows how sick and demented many Americans are, until the time comes, that they would become victims themselves.

When that horrifying moment occurs for many of these unprincipled, selfish people who only care about their financial bottom line, there will be no sympathy by those who have, vigorously, opposed Donald Trump and his evil supporters in the Republican Party, who are not patriots, but rather traitors to the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the rule of law!

Trump Utilizing National Guard In Los Angeles, Defying Governor And Mayor, Highly Unusual!

Ronald 28 Comments

With immigration raids and arrests mounting all over the nation, but particularly in the major cities of Los Angeles and New York City, Donald Trump has taken the step of escalating his authoritarian impluses by deciding to utilize the National Guard in LA, against the wishes of Governor Gavin Newsom and Mayor Karen Bass. It is extremely unusual and rare to take such an action against the recomendations of state and local officials.

This is clearly seen as a move toward total crackdown on basic civil liberties, perpetrated by Thomas Homan, Stephen Miller, Kristi Noem, Pam Bondi, Pete Hegseth, and a host of other Trump appointees.

We have entered a “police state” situation, with great danger of massive violence and bloodshed, and it could spread quickly around the nation, and lead to the potential of civil war, a horrifying scenario!

There is no indication of massive violence, just of street protests, so this is a power grab by Trump and his government perpetrated to justify suspension of basic First Amendment rights.

It is not clear what can be done about the aggressive and abusive moves inititated by Donald Trump, so we are in a period of great mourning for our Constitution, rule of law, and American democracy!

California WildFire Cataclysm A Massive Tragedy For America!

Ronald 3 Comments

America is in an existential crisis as a result of the California Wildfire cataclysm that has done horrendous damage to our second largest city, Los Angeles!

It is a result of climate change and yet Republicans and Donald Trump choose to play politics, and clearly refuse to accept the reality of climate change.

Trump and the right wing would prefer instead to blame Governor Gavin Newsom and President Joe Biden and their perceptive environmental policies, and talk about DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion) as a contributing factor, degrading women, racial minorities, and gay and transgender people as factors in the disaster, a totally preposterous assertion!

California is about ten percent of America, and has Republicans as well as Democrats, and there is an urgent crisis that requires massive intervention and assistance by the federal government to promote rebuilding for the massive destruction that has become the greatest urban and suburban disaster ever seen in American history.

If Trump and the Republicans play hardball and refuse to face reality, the nation will suffer from an economic downturn of major proportions, with massive suffering of untold experience, with the need to rebuild whole neighborhoods and communities, that have no infrastructure, and no schools, churches, businesses and everything else that makes a community prosper!

With everything else that people fear Donald Trump and the Republicans will do once the inauguration has occurred in 11 days, we are now faced with a catastrophe worsened by evil and hatred.

And this will also undermine our national security and foreign policy, if the worst intentions and motivations of Trump and his party are pursued without concern for their impact on all Americans!