Democrats with presidential ambitions for 2028 are increasingly maneuvering to define the party's stance on Israel, recognizing the issue as a potential litmus test in the next primary. The urgency sharpened last week when House Democrats split nearly evenly on a Republican-led amendment to halt all $3.3 billion in military and humanitarian aid to Israel, with 103 voting for the measure and 98 against. Though the amendment failed—backed only by its sponsor, Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.)—the vote underscored a growing ideological chasm within the party.
As Democrats grapple with shifting voter sentiment, prospective candidates are using the moment to stake out positions that could shape the 2028 primary. Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), who has not ruled out a White House bid, has become a prominent voice pushing for a tougher line on Israel. He recently made media rounds after being detained in the West Bank, arguing that U.S. aid enables actions he opposes. In a Fox News interview, Khanna clashed with host Gillian Turner over whether he knowingly entered a restricted military zone. He later wrote that American rifles carried by Israeli troops convinced him to vote for the aid cutoff: “I oppose selling weapons to Israel that are used to kill Palestinians.” Critics, including Israeli Ambassador Yechiel Michael Leiter, suggested the media blitz was tied to Khanna’s presidential ambitions. Asked directly about 2028, Khanna said, “I’m strongly considering it. And I’m more resolved to consider it after this trip.”
Meanwhile, former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, a moderate seen as a likely contender, has taken a different tack. In a speech at Tel Aviv University, Emanuel argued that “unconditional support” from the U.S. has turned Israel into “the world’s pariah” and called for ending military subsidies, imposing sanctions on violent Israeli settlers, and pursuing a “23-state solution” that balances Israeli security with Palestinian statehood. But he also distanced himself from the party’s left flank, criticizing those who celebrated Hamas after the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks and dismissing democratic socialism, telling Jewish Insider, “I am not impressed with that wing of the party.”
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D), another potential candidate, has sought a middle ground. A staunch Zionist, Shapiro has consistently defended Israel’s right to self-defense while criticizing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government. He acknowledged the party’s internal battle, telling CNN earlier this month, “I expect our party over the course of this next year or so to go through a battle about what we believe in, and then come out unified.”
Former Vice President Kamala Harris has also been quietly positioning herself. Axios reported that she has met privately with progressive groups, including pro-Palestinian activists, and has been in touch with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D). The moves suggest she recognizes the issue’s growing importance as Democratic voters shift leftward on Israel.
The positioning comes as the party’s base grows increasingly critical of Israeli policy, a trend that could reshape the 2028 primary. For now, the AIPAC fallout from the House vote has already hit some Democrats, and the debate shows no signs of cooling. As Shapiro put it, the coming year will be a battle over what Democrats believe—and the outcome will likely define the next presidential nominee.
