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Prospective 2028 Contenders Intensify Early-State Tours

Visits to South Carolina and Iowa this week test messages with voters; gauge donor support; signal seriousness ahead of formal campaign launches.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Bernie Sanders hold a "Fighting Oligarchy" rally in Los Angeles on April 12, 2025.
Former Vice President Kamala Harris speaks at the Emerge 20th Anniversary Gala in San Francisco, California, on April 30, 2025.
Then-Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel attends a press conference at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan in Tokyo on January 10, 2025.
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer arrives to greet President Donald Trump before he speaks to Air National Guard Troops at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Michigan, on April 29, 2025.

Overview

  • Democratic governors Gavin Newsom and Andy Beshear conducted two-day tours across rural South Carolina counties and labor events in mid-July to workshop policy pitches and build local support.
  • Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin will headline the Iowa GOP dinner on July 17 and the South Carolina Republican fundraising dinner on August 9 without confirming a 2028 bid.
  • Arizona Sen. Ruben Gallego announced an August trip to the Iowa state fair and a Quad Cities town hall, prompting speculation about a presidential run.
  • Despite intensified travel and public appearances, no contender has officially launched a 2028 campaign and some potential candidates, including JB Pritzker and Wes Moore, have ruled out or deferred presidential bids.
  • Early tours reflect DNC calendar reforms that cement South Carolina’s first Democratic primary status and underscore the strategic importance of grassroots outreach and donor cultivation.