Democratic Leaders Gather in Denver to Strategize Post-Election
Democratic officials and strategists met in Denver for the What's Next conference to plan for their upcoming congressional majorities and the 2028 presidential cycle.
Democratic party leaders, strategists, and potential 2028 presidential candidates gathered in Denver on Thursday for the two-day What's Next conference. Hosted by Majority Democrats, a moderate group chaired by Representative Jake Auchincloss, the event follows the party's best electoral performance in 50 years, which secured majorities in both chambers of Congress and control of at least 12 new state legislative chambers.
The conference aims to bridge ideological divides between the party's left and center wings while debating how to utilize their upcoming congressional majorities to challenge President Donald Trump during the final two years of his term. Attendees include House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, and former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. While organizers position the group as an alternative to the party establishment and the activist left, some progressives have criticized their vision as insufficiently ambitious, specifically regarding a preference for a Medicare for Americans plan over Medicare for All. High-profile progressives such as Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez were absent from the speaker list.
During the event, data analyst David Shor attributed recent victories to low turnout among 2024 Trump voters and urged the party to prioritize economic concerns. Iowa Governor Rob Sand discussed his strategy of holding unfiltered town hall meetings to engage voters. Denver is using the conference to promote itself as a candidate for the 2028 Democratic National Convention.
