Bob Schwartz

Under normal circumstances, in normal years, in normal America, it would be natural for a party to be talking about prospective nominees in the next presidential election. Politicians would be continuing their various moves, including supportive appearances and funding of candidates in the recent midterm election.

This is not a normal year and not a normal America.

The Democratic party should look on as prospective nominees do whatever they are doing, appear wherever they are appearing, say whatever they are saying. It is a long road to the 2028 nomination and they are walking/running.

But the Democratic party itself should act as if there is no 2028 presidential election. It has a monumental and challenging job to do right now. To the extent that 2028 affects the choices made and the actions taken now, it can shape and compromise the effectiveness of whatever the Democrats are planning. The Democratic party can’t afford distorted best efforts. America can’t afford it.

During the midterm, Trump ironically asked voters to pretend he was on the ballot. They did. We know the result.

Just so, Democrats should pretend there is no 2028 election and get laser-focused on trying to put America back on the right track now. If it succeeds, 2028 will take care of itself. If it doesn’t succeed, or fails spectacularly, 2028 will be the least of the Democratic problems.

© 2026 Bob Schwartz