The Democrats’ 2028 Cliffhanger

Officially, my published presidential prediction record is two out of three right, but the one I got “wrong” has – or should have – an asterisk.

In July, 2014, I published a column entitled “If she runs, here’s why Hillary Clinton will never be president,” one in December, 2019, “Elizabeth Warren will never be president,” and another in February, 2020 entitled, “Joe Biden will never be president.”

Technically, the third prediction was wrong, but since confirmations of Biden’s cognitive deficiencies before and while in office have breached the legacy media blackout, and revelations of 2020 election “irregularities” keep appearing, there are compelling cases to be made that Biden was illegitimately elected, and that, in office, he had little, if anything to do with setting administration policy. My “wrong” prediction about Slow Joe’s “autopen” presidency deserves an asterisk.

My liberal then-editor ridiculed the Hillary column: “Do you really want this published so far out?” I did, and I stand vindicated.

August, 2026 is more than two years before the 2028 General Election, but, based on recent “presidential” polling of known ambitious Democrats, and considering the environment in which each must operate to secure the party’s nomination, I will predict, not just the likely Democrat nominee, but the entire ticket.

First, however…

The Republicans’ choice is simple. President Donald Trump is term-limited, so the Republican nominee will probably be Vice President J.D. Vance, only possibly Secretary of State Marco Rubio. A Vance/Rubio ticket would be unbeatable.

Democrats have a larger assortment of potential candidates, none of whom have announced their candidacies, however their party is facing some huge problems.

Author, orator, and former Vice President Kamala “Word-Salad” Harris is the clear leader in most polls, although California Governor Gavin “A-Little-Dab’ll-Do-Ya” Newsom, former Transportation Secretary Pete “What-Me-Worry?” Buttigieg, and New York Representative Alexandria “Bottle-or-Draft?” Ocasio-Cortez are in the hunt…more or less…

Other potential candidates polled include Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, Arizona Senator Mark Kelly, Georgia Senator Jon Ossoff, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, New Jersey Senator Cory Booker, and Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear.

Of those eleven potential candidates, ten are destined to be also-rans, but one of them will fill out the ticket. Probably only one can. (More on that later)

Democrats have a “Jewish” problem, so Shapiro, who has been running for president for years, possibly his entire adult life, is unlikely to secure the nomination. A gay man, Buttegieg is unpopular with black voters. Newsom is busy destroying California. The rest of the “others” have public identity, personal discipline and/or temperament problems.

However, the Democratic National Committee (DNC) may have already picked the party’s nominee by designating South Carolina as the first primary election state.

A majority of South Carolina’s Democrats are black voters who follow the endorsements of the state’s lone House Democrat, Representative James Clyburn of Columbia, a black man.

Clyburn played kingmaker for Joe Biden in 2020, and endorsed Kamala Harris in 2024.

Of the eleven potential candidates, Harris, who is melanin-rich and female, ranks highest on Democrats’ inviolable, seemingly faith-based “intersectionality” hierarchy of allegedly-marginalized/oppressed groups. If Harris declares, and Clyburn endorses her again, she will win South Carolina, and have momentum going into subsequent primaries. Harris could easily lose any other “first” state selected.

However, even though she appeared on no 2024 primary ballots, incinerated $1.5 billion in a blowout loss, and put the Democratic National Committee $20 million in debt, with South Carolina first, Harris will be the Democrats’ nominee – but she will never be president.

Another problem facing Democrats and their nominee is the hard leftward lurch of the party’s base.

The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), the party’s (overtly) radical wing, will subject Democrats to a “purity test” – adherence to their manifesto to completely transform American government – and America. According to their leadership, candidates will “be expected to accept and promote DSA’s program, and align their own campaign platforms with its contents…”

But, Harris/her handlers will know that, as a candidate for national office, the DSA’s radical platform is a guaranteed loser, so Harris will need some “insurance” on the ticket.

Of the ten also-rans, there is only one running mate who has the chance to mollify the radicals: DSA darling and House “squad member” Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

Harris will have no other choice.

I can already see the duo’s campaign slogan:

“THELMA & LOUISE, 2028!”

https://www.pottsmerc.com/2026/08/09/jerry-shenk-the-democrats-2028-cliffhanger/