Actor George Clooney has identified three Democrats he is watching ahead of the 2028 presidential election, but the actor and prominent Democratic fundraiser says he plans to wait until after November's midterm elections before endorsing anyone. That means the November 3 elections could provide an early political test for two of the three figures he singled out: Georgia Senator Jon Ossoff and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, both of whom are seeking reelection this year. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, meanwhile, is not up for election this November.
Speaking at The Future of Creativity event in Venice in September, Clooney said, "I think we're all very excited by this young senator from Georgia, Jon Ossoff. I am 65 years old, and I think that we need some young voices that are coming up with new ideas and some new thoughts." He also said he liked Pritzker and Beshear, while making clear that he had not yet settled on a candidate. Newsweek has contacted representatives for Clooney, Ossoff, Pritzker and Beshear for comment.
The remarks are notable because of Clooney's high-profile intervention in the 2024 presidential election. In a New York Times opinion essay in July 2024, he called on President Joe Biden to end his reelection campaign after Biden's poor debate performance against Donald Trump. Biden withdrew later that month and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris, who became the Democratic nominee before losing to Trump.
For now, however, early polling suggests none of Clooney's three prospective choices is the clear favorite for the Democratic nomination. The RealClearPolling national average, covering polls from July 19 through September 28, has Harris at 26.3 percent, California Governor Gavin Newsom at 14.3 percent, former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg at 12.6 percent, and Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez at 10 percent. Ossoff follows at 8.8 percent, while Beshear is at 4 percent and Pritzker at 3.2 percent.
In a September 26-28 Harvard-Harris poll, for example, Ossoff registered 6 percent and Pritzker 5 percent, while Harris had 38 percent. An Echelon Insights poll conducted September 17-21 put Ossoff at 8 percent and both Beshear and Pritzker at 2 percent. A July Emerson poll painted a different picture, giving Ossoff 13 percent and Beshear 7 percent.
Of Clooney's three names, Ossoff currently has the strongest standing in national presidential polling and faces perhaps the most consequential test next month. The Georgia Democrat, elected to the Senate in a January 2021 runoff, is seeking another term against Republican Rep. Mike Collins on November 3.
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