Some Dems' 2028 strategy: a straight, white, Christian man

Some top Democrats are privately debating whether nominating a straight white Christian man in 2028 offers the party's best chance to defeat President Trump, citing concerns that portions of the electorate won't support women or diverse candidates. Former First Lady Michelle Obama recently told the U.S. is "not ready for a woman," a statement South Carolina Rep. Jim Clyburn endorsed, while former Vice President Harris wrote in her memoir that selecting a diverse running mate alongside her candidacy posed "too big of a risk." The Democrats' anxiety stems from Harris losing to Trump in 2024 and Hillary Clinton losing in 2016, both years the party nominated female candidates, though several potential 2028 contenders — including Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, and California Rep. Ro Khanna — have publicly rejected the pessimism about voters' readiness for women or minority nominees. Khanna pointed to data showing Harris matched Obama's white vote share but underperformed with Latino, Asian American, Black male, and young voters, suggesting the losses reflected broader coalition challenges rather than gender or race alone. The internal party debate risks obscuring what some strategists acknowledge could be uncomfortable truths about Democratic shortcomings beyond candidate identity.