- President Joe Biden is still in the White House, but Democrats are already turning their attention to the 2028 campaign.
- In South Carolina, Kamala Harris and Cory Booker are seen as favorites heading into 2028.
- No Democrats have announced their candidacies yet in 2028, but many are trying to raise their profile.
South Carolina Democrats head to the polls today to cast their votes in the 2024 presidential primary, with President Joe Biden expected to win easily.
For Democrats looking to raise their profile ahead of the 2028 primary, when Biden will not be on the ballot, this is a great opportunity to engage with party members.
According to Politico, Vice President Kamala Harris and New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker both briefly ran for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020 and cultivated political networks in the last election, but if they did If they choose to pursue it, they would have an advantage in early voting states. He will be nominated again in 2028.
“In these early primary states, it's important to build relationships early on so that if you decide to run, you have someone on the ground to help you, give you advice, and who to hire. There are people out there who can tell you,” a Democratic lawmaker who advises potential 2028 candidates told Politico.
South Carolina Rep. Marvin Pendarvis told Politico that Democrats are working hard to ensure Biden's reelection this fall. But he also noted how Harris is positioning herself for his future administration.
”[Harris] She's done a lot to take advantage of what's going on in South Carolina, spent resources here, worked hard here, and I believe that will help her going forward. ” he told the publication.
Black voters make up about 60% of South Carolina's Democratic districts, which could be a boost for Harris and Booker in the leading candidate state.
Business Insider has reached out to representatives for Harris and Booker for comment.
