Updated June 24, 2026

The 2028 Democratic primary

No one has formally entered the 2028 Democratic primary yet, but the field is taking shape. Here are the 21 most-discussed Democratic contenders, how the nomination is won, and what the calendar looks like.

The field

2028 Democratic candidates

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

U.S. Representative (NY-14)

Likely to run

Gavin Newsom

Governor of California

Likely to run

Josh Shapiro

Governor of Pennsylvania

Likely to run

Kamala Harris

Former Vice President

Likely to run

Pete Buttigieg

Former U.S. Transportation Secretary

Likely to run

Amy Klobuchar

U.S. Senator (Minnesota)

U.S. Senator (Vermont)

Possible

Chris Murphy

U.S. Senator (Connecticut)

Possible

Cory Booker

U.S. Senator (New Jersey)

Possible

Elissa Slotkin

U.S. Senator (Michigan)

U.S. Senator (Georgia)

Possible

Mark Kelly

U.S. Senator (Arizona)

Possible

Raphael Warnock

U.S. Senator (Georgia)

Possible

Ro Khanna

U.S. Representative (California)

Possible

Ruben Gallego

U.S. Senator (Arizona)

Possible

Tim Walz

Governor of Minnesota

How the Democratic nomination works

Each state holds a primary or caucus to award delegates. Delegates vote at the Democratic National Committee (DNC) national convention in the summer of 2028, and a candidate who wins a majority becomes the nominee.

The official 2028 calendar is not finalized. Traditionally a handful of early states vote first, a large group votes on Super Tuesday in early March, and the rest follow through June.

Traditional early states

These states have often voted first. The 2028 order is not set, but they are worth watching.

Iowa New Hampshire Nevada South Carolina

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Quick answers

2028 Democratic primary FAQ

Who is running in the 2028 Democratic primary?

As of June 2026, no candidate has formally declared, but the most-discussed Democratic contenders include Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Gavin Newsom, Josh Shapiro, Kamala Harris, Pete Buttigieg. See the full field below.

How does a party pick its 2028 nominee?

Each state holds a primary or caucus to allocate delegates to the candidates. Those delegates then vote at the party's national convention in the summer of 2028, and a candidate who wins a majority of delegates becomes the nominee.

When are the 2028 primaries?

The official 2028 calendar is not finalized yet. Historically, a few early states vote in January and February, a large group of states votes on Super Tuesday in early March, and the remaining states vote through about June.

What is the difference between a primary and a caucus?

A primary is a state-run election with secret ballots. A caucus is a party-run, in-person meeting where supporters gather to show their preference. Most states now use primaries.

See the full primary calendar by state or the Republican primary.