Democrats: of these 6 candidates, who would you vote for as your DEM Presidential nominee in 2028 ?

[Tender Branson]

I would vote for Andy Beshear.

He makes the most sense. He's a moderate and not as leftist as the others and comes from a heavy Trump state, which means he would do really well in the general election, because he knows how to win over Trump voters.

 

[Slartibartfast]

Its too early for me to decide. At least two candidates will need to peak and crash out before we even get to a final list for the primaries.

 

[Gatsby]

Of the options on your list, Andy Beshear is my first choice. Wes Moore would be my second choice of these options...I don't know that much about him but I have liked what little of him I've seen so far.

It would be a very bad idea to nominate any of the other four on this list. Please no.

 

[Tender Branson]

More on Beshear:

The relatively unknown Democrat drawing huge crowds in South Carolina​

Potential 2028 candidates, including Andy Beshear, descended on South Carolina in recent weeks to preview their campaign messages.

https://www.politico.com/news/2025/07/20/andy-beshear-introduces-himself-to-south-carolina-with-an-eye-toward-2028-00465011

 

[Tender Branson]

SC is important because of the large Black population that needs to be won in the early primaries.

ButtiPete has bad cards with this crowd, if he wants to run, he scores 0% (!) among Black voters.

Black voters are still very anti-gay.

 

[Loulit01]

Early days.

 

[SNOWFLAKE]

Why only ONE choice in the poll?
There were a couple of names on there that would absolutely ruffle some rightwing feathers.

 

[Hari Seldon]

I would vote for Andy Beshear.

He makes the most sense. He's a moderate and not as leftist as the others and comes from a heavy Trump state, which means he would do really well in the general election, because he knows how to win over Trump voters.

I would vote for any of them over the fascist scumbag Christian nationalist party of magidiot assholes.

 

[VySky]

Of the options on your list, Andy Beshear is my first choice. Wes Moore would be my second choice of these options...I don't know that much about him but I have liked what little of him I've seen so far.

It would be a very bad idea to nominate any of the other four on this list. Please no.

I like Beshear

 

[BirdinHand]

I can’t remember the last time NJ primary even mattered

Our primary is so late in the game, the candidate is always chosen before we even weigh in.

 

[Surrealistik]

I would vote for Andy Beshear.

He makes the most sense. He's a moderate and not as leftist as the others and comes from a heavy Trump state, which means he would do really well in the general election, because he knows how to win over Trump voters.

Slim pickings.

Though I don't think she's quite ready for prime time just yet, I'd have to default to AOC of the given options as being the best of a less than satisfactory bunch and Tim Walz so far as 'other'/custom picks go, who I think is actually a good candidate.

 

[Tender Branson]

I can’t remember the last time NJ primary even mattered

Our primary is so late in the game, the candidate is always chosen before we even weigh in.

True.

Because NJ always has its POTUS primary very late. In May or June.

The whole primary system needs to be reformed:

There are 50 states + DC + 6 or so overseas territories + Ds/Rs abroad.

So, 58 contests or so.

They should do it like this:

The primaries should start in January 2028 and last until June 2028 - that's 6 months.

Every month, a group of 10 states are voting.

Each group of 10 states consists of roughly the same number of population. So, in one group, California is in there and a few smaller states.

Then, a month later, another group of states is voting, with Florida and a few smaller states. And so on.

The 4 weeks in between each round would give smaller/unknown candidates the time to campaign.

There should not be a single primary day with all 58 elections, because this would help billionaire candidates who could buy the elections.

 

[BirdinHand]

True.

Because NJ always has its POTUS primary very late. In May or June.

The whole primary system needs to be reformed:

There are 50 states + DC + 6 or so overseas territories + Ds/Rs abroad.

So, 58 contests or so.

They should do it like this:

The primaries should start in January 2028 and last until June 2028 - that's 6 months.

Every month, a group of 10 states are voting.

Each group of 10 states consists of roughly the same number of population. So, in one group, California is in there and a few smaller states.

Then, a month later, another group of states is voting, with Florida and a few smaller states. And so on.

The 4 weeks in between each round would give smaller/unknown candidates the time to campaign.

There should not be a single primary day with all 58 elections, because this would help billionaire candidates who could buy the elections.

I don’t feel compelled to change the system

 

[j brown's body]

I would vote for any of them.

 

[Tender Branson]

I don’t feel compelled to change the system

Why not ?

In my reform proposal, NJ (like any other states) would have a say in choosing the nominee because they wouldn't be late all the time.

Under my proposal, each group of states would be shuffled every 4 years, so each state would be either in group A, B, C, D, E or F every 4 years, but never in the same.

This rotation of states would mean every state would be in another group and only after 24 years, the state would be in the same group again as before.

 

[Phys251]

I would vote for Andy Beshear.

He makes the most sense. He's a moderate and not as leftist as the others and comes from a heavy Trump state, which means he would do really well in the general election, because he knows how to win over Trump voters.

In the primary? Get back to me on this.

In the general election? Any of them over a Repub.

 

[phoenix2020]

I still want Mark Kelly and Gretchen Whitmer in the running but right now we need to focus on gerrymandering away as many MAGA from Congress as possible. That’s the priority, otherwise who runs in 2028 won’t matter.

 

[BirdinHand]

Why not ?

In my reform proposal, NJ (like any other states) would have a say in choosing the nominee because they wouldn't be late all the time.

Under my proposal, each group of states would be shuffled every 4 years, so each state would be either in group A, B, C, D, E or F every 4 years, but never in the same.

This rotation of states would mean every state would be in another group and only after 24 years, the state would be in the same group again as before.

Because I don’t want primary season to last any longer than it does nor do I want it to be more expensive than it already is

The system has worked just fine the way it is.

 

[Tender Branson]

Because I don’t want primary season to last any longer than it does nor do I want it to be more expensive than it already is

The system has worked just fine the way it is.

No, it hasn't.

Even you said that NJ and other late states always gets screwed over and have no say.

Under my proposal, the primary season would not be longer than now (January to June) and why would it be more costly ? Also no. Only the dates would change.

 

[BirdinHand]

No, it hasn't.

Even you said that NJ and other late states always gets screwed over and have no say.

You said that - not me

Feel free to fight your own strawman.

Under my proposal, the primary season would not be longer than now (January to June) and why would it be more costly ? Also no. Only the dates would change.

 

[Greenbeard]

 

[Decypher]

AOC in an ideal world. Newsom in this one.

 

[Phys251]

No. Ossoff is a great guy, but he's a senator in a crucial swing state and needs to stay there.

 

[Fearandloathing]

I have always been a strategic voter thus I would go with Newsome.

 

[CharloTexan]

Why not ?

In my reform proposal, NJ (like any other states) would have a say in choosing the nominee because they wouldn't be late all the time.

Under my proposal, each group of states would be shuffled every 4 years, so each state would be either in group A, B, C, D, E or F every 4 years, but never in the same.

This rotation of states would mean every state would be in another group and only after 24 years, the state would be in the same group again as before.

There are some good parts of your idea that I like. But if we were going to change the primary methodology, remember that it would have to be substantially agreed to by both major parties. Both Dem and Repub primaries need to be held on the same day in each state, so there's not twice as much work for poll workers and other logistics.

Also, the smart thing to do is have one primary day each month (or thereabouts), late Jan thru June. That's six primary dates. There's nothing magical about the six, so it could be 5 or 8, equally spread out across the Jan-June calendar.

Now as to which states on which of the dates, I think it should be generally geographically related, like upper central states (Min, Ill, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri, Michigan, Wisc.) followed by say, the gulf coast states, followed by the northeast, followed by the far west, followed by .... The six largest states (Cal, TX, Ill, NY, Fla, Ind/Ohio/Penn) should be like an anchor store in each shopping mall. The proximity of the states makes it easier for the candidates to canvass, poll, engage, advertise the voters during a geographical window. The fact that several states with disparate interests will determine their electors means that there need not necessarily be immediate winners and losers such that candidates cannot adjust and instead feel they need to quit the race. In this way, nobody quits after not winning any of the first 3 single state primaries.

There's plenty of other things that need to be changed, but those are my thoughts about the schedule and pace.