Democrats · Axios
Shapiro wants a Dem fight in 2028, so far, without leading it
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Josh Shapiro says the 2028 presidential race should be a once-in-a-generation battle over the Democratic Party's core identity.
Key facts
- Josh Shapiro says the 2028 presidential race should be a once-in-a-generation battle over the Democratic Party's core identity
- Shapiro repeatedly has said that Democrats need to have an ideological clash as they did in 1992, when they nominated Bill Clinton, a Southern moderate who went on to defeat President George H.W. Bush
- Though Shapiro often compares this moment to 1992, he has been significantly less aggressive than Clinton
- Matt Bennett, a former Clinton aide and co-founder of the center-left group Third Way, said it's a matter of timing
Summary
As progressives and socialists have won primary after primary in recent weeks, the more moderate Shapiro often has been gun-shy about criticizing the left, taking more of a they're-all-in-this-together approach. Many center-left Democrats are looking for a national leader to go toe to toe with the party's rising socialist wing. The potential 2028 contender's restraint underscores a defining trait: He picks his spots and rarely acts impulsively. His moves also suggest he doesn't want to completely alienate the left.