California Governor Gavin Newsom, long viewed as a potential 2028 presidential candidate, said he is “not alarmed” by the rise of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) in a new interview published by Politico, as prospective candidates stake out opposing positions on the organization. Democratic socialists have expanded their power in the primaries during this year's midterms, including Claire Valdez and Darializa Avila Chevalier in New York, Melat Kiros in Colorado and Chris Rabb in Pennsylvania. The DSA has garnered new attention in the wake of the victories, and Democrats are divided about how the party should approach them.
Some Democrats view them as a political liability—polls show socialism and democratic socialism are unpopular with voters, and more moderate members of the party fear embracing DSA could alienate moderate and independent voters. But others have said the party should embrace a “big tent” approach ahead of the midterms and 2028, when Democrats will have to walk a fine line to retain support from progressive and socialist voters, while also winning support from moderates, to defeat President Donald Trump and Republicans. The first votes of the Democratic primaries will not be cast for more than a year for the 2028 presidential election, but attention has already turned to potential candidates.
Some are embracing democratic socialism ahead of potential runs, but others have cast themselves as squarely against the ideology. Here is a look at where the top potential candidates stand on democratic socialism and the DSA. Newsweek reached out to their political teams for comment via email.
Newsom told Politico in an interview published on Monday that he's “for a big-tent party” when asked about whether Democrats should distance themselves from democratic socialism. So why would you ever dismiss that?” the governor asked. Newsom also told reporters in July that whether he joins the race would be determined by “fate.” “I really believe it’s fate,” he said.
Every conceivable stripe of Democrat will be on display.” Former Vice President Kamala Harris has made clear over the years she is not aligned with democratic socialism. Harris suggested she could run again earlier this year. I am thinking about it,” she told the Reverend Al Sharpton in April after he asked during the National Action Network’s annual convention if she planned to run for president in 2028.
Harris noted that she “served for four years being a heartbeat away from the presidency of the United States.” “I spent countless hours in my West Wing office footsteps away from the Oval Office," she said. "I spent countless hours in the Oval Office and the Situation Room. I know what the job is, and I know what it requires.” Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York is the most prominent democratic socialist who has been named as a potential 2028 presidential candidate.
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