Potential 2028 Democratic presidential contenders are set to convene next month at a post-midterm conference aimed at shaping the party's direction ahead of the next election cycle. The gathering, titled "What's Next," is scheduled for Nov. 12-14 in Denver and is not an official Democratic National Committee event. Instead, it is organized by Majority Democrats and funded by MD PAC.
The conference's promotional materials describe it as "the defining convening of the post-election season, bringing together the people who will write the party's next chapter." The event's description adds, "Together, we'll absorb what happened in 2026 and chart where the party goes next."
According to the event page, 33 individuals have been named as attendees, including former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, former U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel, New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill, Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger, Reps. Jake Auchincloss (D-Mass.) and Sarah McBride (D-Del.), and Sens. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), and Chris Coons (D-Del.). Democratic strategists David Axelrod and Lis Smith are also listed. The website notes that "more will be announced as the program comes together."
The conference is designed to foster debate among "competing visions of the party's future" and to facilitate conversations with leading strategists, opinion leaders, and candidates. It will also provide a platform for partner organizations to exchange ideas and for activists and staffers to coordinate "opportunities" for the party.
Majority Democrats highlighted Colorado as a model for the party's long-term strategy, noting that the state's shift from red to purple to blue over 20 years was "not by accident, but by investing in people and institutions, building a coalition and then delivering."
The Democratic Party is aiming to reclaim one or both chambers of Congress in the upcoming midterm elections, and the conference comes as the party seeks to rebuild after former Vice President Kamala Harris's 2024 loss to President Trump. Democrats faced headwinds in that election due to rising costs, inflation, and unpopularity over U.S. support for Israel's war in Gaza. Paul Rivera, author of the Democratic National Committee's 2024 election "autopsy," told Axios in August that the war hurt Harris politically.
This year, the party has seen notable gains from candidates aligned with the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), who have defeated long-serving Democratic incumbents in several primaries. This trend is likely to be a topic of discussion at the conference, as the party navigates internal divisions over policy and strategy.
As the party looks ahead, the Denver gathering will serve as an early testing ground for potential 2028 contenders to articulate their visions and build coalitions. The event's focus on "What's Next" underscores the urgency Democrats feel to recalibrate after recent electoral setbacks and to position themselves for future success.
