This free Wide World of News newsletter from Mark Halperin includes alerts for 2WAY programs, the daybook, political updates and analysis. If you would like to receive Mark Halperin's separate, daily premium Wide World of News Concierge Coverage newsletter, you can learn how to become a member here: https://www.walkingduck.com/mark The Debut of “8 for ’28”Watch/listen to the full “Next Up” segment on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube....
I’m rolling out a new recurring segment on “Next Up” that I’ve been working on for months: “8 for ’28.” This isn’t about the general election—it’s about which Democrat is most likely to win the party’s 2028 presidential nomination. I’ve been covering a version of this question since 1988, and it’s something I think about nearly every single day: Who will a party nominate for the White House?  I’m constantly talking to people across the Democratic Party—grassroots activists, elected officials, donors, strategists, and those close to the potential candidates. I put together my list, pressure-test it with smart insiders, take in their critiques, and then apply my own judgment and reporting. What I’m unveiling is my newest one-through-eight ranking of the Democrats currently best positioned to become the 2028 nominee. It’s rigorous, deeply reported, and always evolving—because the race is very much underway. Here’s the structure we’ll follow: But before we get to the list, I have seven caveats, because I don’t want to be misunderstood. Caveat 1: This is about winning the Democratic nomination, not the general election. I’m not saying who would be strongest for November 2028. Totally different question. Caveat 2: A huge missing variable is the nominating calendar. We’re past the Iowa–New Hampshire–South Carolina routine. We don’t know which states will go early; several are competing. That matters a lot. And second, will early states even matter as much anymore? Joe Biden lost the first three contests in 2024 and still became the nominee—a historic first. Was that a fluke or a sign of things changing? Caveat 3: The traits that matter now are different from the past. Money, endorsements, TV skills used to be central. Now social media and other dynamics matter more. We can guess what will count, but we don’t know. Caveat 4: Is the mood of the party such that the nominee will inevitably be a progressive, anti-establishment outsider? In 2016 and 2020, if the establishment hadn’t intervened to stop Bernie Sanders, I think he would have been the nominee both times. The party may only want an outsider now—someone like AOC or Ro Khanna. It’s possible. Caveat 5: You have to factor in whether someone will actually run. Governor Whitmer isn’t on my list because my reporting suggests she likely won’t run. If that changes, she’d move onto the list. Michelle Obama would be strong if she ran—but she’s never going to run for anything. Caveat 6: It’s not a strong field. I’m not trying to be denigrating, but, as of now, this is at least a somewhat weaker field by experience and talent compared to most past cycles. Caveat 7: There are no perfect candidates. Everyone has flaws. Someone flawed is going to win. The Rankings as of December 11, 2025:
Let’s take a closer look at the top 4:  1.) Gavin Newsom
2.) Josh Shapiro
3.) Pete Buttigieg
4.) Kamala Harris
And next up: the next four:  5.) Andy Beshear
6.) Wes Moore
7.) JB Pritzker
8.) Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
Watch the full episode on YouTube — including my conversation with Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders:  Please download, subscribe, and share “Next Up” everywhere you consume podcasts. Apple:
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The Debut of “8 for ’28”
December 12, 2025
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