Democratic Governors Consider Timing for 2028 Presidential Run

<p>Top aides for Florida Governor Ron DeSantis' failed 2024 presidential campaign have advised Democratic governors considering a 2028 run to act promptly after the November midterms. </p><p><strong>Context:</strong> Governors Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania, Wes Moore of Maryland, JB Pritzker of Illinois, and Andy Beshear of Kentucky are facing a decision similar to DeSantis' post-2022 reelection situation:</p><hr /><ul><li>Should they enter the race early, before their legislative sessions begin, risking a lack of focus on their constituents? Or should they wait until late spring to achieve policy successes, potentially allowing opponents to gain an advantage in the presidential race?</li><li>Democratic sources indicate that their allies and teams are already discussing these options.</li></ul><p><strong>Current Situation:</strong> Many aides to DeSantis express regret over their strategy during the period between his reelection victory in November 2022 and his presidential campaign launch in late May 2023.</p><ul><li>Donald Trump announced his reelection bid in November 2022 and began criticizing DeSantis while the governor focused on state policy achievements and promoting a book, ultimately trailing in the presidential race.</li></ul><p><strong>Quote:</strong> Ryan Tyson, a Republican pollster and former senior adviser to DeSantis, stated, "In this atmosphere, you can't be president by just being a great governor and boasting about your legislative wins. Enough of the voters in these early nomination contests will be driven by emotion more so than logic."</p><ul><li>A former aide to DeSantis remarked that there were diminishing returns for DeSantis in passing conservative legislation during Florida's 2023 session due to his extensive prior record.</li><li>The aide suggested that for a Democratic governor, simply continuing existing legislative efforts may not attract media attention or address potential political vulnerabilities.</li></ul><p><strong>Comparison:</strong> The 2028 Democratic primary differs from the 2024 Republican primary.</p><ul><li>DeSantis faced a former president who retained significant popularity among the GOP base.</li><li>Legal issues surrounding Trump led many Republican voters to support him.</li><li>Trump's strategy included negative campaigning against DeSantis before the latter officially entered the race.</li></ul><p><strong>Considerations:</strong> If Democratic governors announce their candidacies before completing their legislative sessions, they may encounter criticism from rivals in the presidential race as well as challenges from state legislators.</p><ul><li>Ambitious state legislators could delay bills and criticize newly elected governors for prioritizing national politics shortly after reelection.</li></ul><p><strong>Response:</strong> Axios inquired whether Shapiro, Moore, Beshear, and Pritzker planned to finish their state legislative sessions before announcing presidential intentions.</p><ul><li>None provided a direct response. Shapiro's spokesperson, Manuel Bonder, commented, "While we appreciate team DeSantis taking a break from banning abortion and rigging our democracy to offer unsolicited advice, I'll repeat what the governor has made clear: The midterms run through Pennsylvania, and the only thing we are focused on is winning up and down the ballot this November."</li></ul>