Top Democratic Candidates to Succeed Trump After Midterms

Following the midterm elections, the race to succeed President Donald Trump is expected to intensify, with a large field of Democratic candidates already preparing for 2028 without a clear frontrunner emerging. No candidate has officially declared their bid for the November 2028 election. Potential Democratic candidates include governors like Andy Beshear, Gavin Newsom, J.B. Pritzker, and Josh Shapiro, who have been traveling to early primary states and building their national profiles. Former presidential candidates Pete Buttigieg and Kamala Harris are also considering runs, alongside senators like Mark Kelly and John Ossoff, and progressive figure Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. On the Republican side, the field is less crowded, with J.D. Vance and Marco Rubio seen as the most prominent potential successors, as constitutional rules prevent Trump from seeking a third term. Historical data suggests early polls can be misleading, as both Trump in 2016 and Bill Clinton in 1992 had minimal support before winning their nominations.