As Democrats scramble to counter President Donald Trump’s tightening grip on power, Gov. JB Pritzker (D-IL) is emerging as the party’s leading foil, setting up a high-stakes 2028 contrast with Gov. Gavin Newsom’s (D-CA) more cautious approach.
In the aftermath of stinging defeats in the 2024 election, Democrats have struggled over how to respond to Trump’s return to power, with some leaders doubling down on confrontation while others call for recalibration, arguing that Democrats must better understand the forces that fueled Trump’s victory. The result is a party still grappling with how to balance resistance with reflection, as it eyes 2026 and 2028 without a unified playbook.
No Democrat has launched a 2028 presidential campaign — it’s still early — but the behind-the-scenes maneuvering is already well underway. Beyond Pritzker and Newsom, other possible contenders include Govs. Gretchen Whitmer (D-MI), Josh Shapiro (D-PA), Wes Moore (D-MD), Tim Walz (D-MN), and Andy Beshear (D-KY), as well as former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg
Among these contenders, Pritzker and Newsom have captured headlines for their contrasting approaches to Trump. Pritzker has positioned himself as a leading critic, implementing bold policies and making high-profile appearances to challenge Trump’s agenda. In contrast, Newsom has adopted a more conciliatory tone, engaging with Trump-aligned voices and signaling a willingness to find common ground.
“I think it plays to larger strategies that perhaps both governors are looking at. If it’s a base election, then Pritzker’s all-out resistance to Trump might be the more successful strategy, which is what he may be banking on,” said Robin Johnson, an adjunct professor at Monmouth College.
“I think Newsom is looking more at perhaps reaching voters in the middle, depending on how big a pool of independent voters there may be in 2028. It’s really just rolling the dice at this point,” he added.
Pritzker is working to expand his reach beyond Illinois, headlining major Democratic fundraisers in key states such as New Hampshire and Michigan. Through his nonprofit group, Think Big America, he’s funneled money into progressive ballot measures,including abortion access initiatives in nine states, with wins in seven so far.
An heir to the Hyatt Hotels fortune, Pritzker has poured millions of dollars into Democratic causes nationwide, including a $1.5 million contribution to the winning liberal candidate in Wisconsin’s high-profile Supreme Court race.
As governor, he’s become a leading figure in the party’s resistance to Trump, leveraging both policy and rhetoric to challenge the administration. He recently ordered a review of Illinois’s financial ties with El Salvador over the controversial deportation of an illegal migrant, opening the door to a potential boycott, and paused a major federal infrastructure project over concerns tied to Trump-era funding. He’s also sharply criticized what he views as threats to constitutional norms, further cementing his role in the national Democratic pushback.
“I think Pritzker sees himself perhaps filling that lane of being the resistance lane – being a way to get ahead of other potential challengers in advance of the shaping of the presidential primary,” Johnson explained.
During Trump’s first term, Pritzker positioned himself as a vocal member of the Democratic opposition. He expanded abortion access in Illinois in 2019, presenting it as a counter to federal efforts to restrict abortion access. Pritzker also limited cooperation with ICE by declaring Illinois a “welcoming state” and frequently clashed with the Trump administration during the COVID-19 crisis, accusing it of spreading misinformation.
“Pritzker is willing to stand alone, and that’s not an easy thing to do right now. He’s shown he’s willing to do it,” said Michael Hardaway, a political strategist who advises business leaders and politicians.
“I think that’s also combined with the idea that he probably sees an opportunity in the White House in three years. He’s positioning himself, which is a smart thing to do, because it’s wide open,” Hardaway added.
After Trump’s 2024 victory, Newsom initially struck a defiant tone, calling a special legislative session to “Trump-proof” the state and by allocating funds for legal challenges against anticipated federal policies. He also traveled to the nation’s capital to meet with lawmakers and former President Joe Biden, aiming to secure support for California’s priorities.
But his posture has shifted in 2025. Amid devastating wildfires, Newsom met with Trump in Los Angeles, praised the administration’s disaster response, and described the talks as “productive.”
The California governor has also launched a podcast, This Is Gavin Newsom, where he interviewed conservative figures such as Steve Bannon, Charlie Kirk, and Michael Savage, framing it as an attempt to better understand the MAGA movement. His ex-wife, Kimberly Guilfoyle, a key Trump ally, has reportedly helped book some of the guests.
He drew backlash from LGBT advocates and fellow Democrats after calling biological males’ participation in girls’ sports “deeply unfair” during a podcast appearance, prompting accusations of echoing Republican rhetoric.
“He’s doing this little canoe ride of pedal on the left pedal on the right and trying not to put the funds at risk for the state, but also trying to show to Democrats that he’s standing up to him,” said Steve Maviglio, a Democratic strategist based in California.
Maviglio believes Newsom’s effort to find middle ground with Trump and his supporters may benefit the state, but politically, it risks alienating Democratic primary voters who are firmly anti-Trump.
“Democrats, active Democrats who vote in presidential primaries are vehemently anti-Trump and to show any kind of common ground with his supporters and him is shooting yourself in the foot when it comes to politics,” he said. “It’s not good Democratic politics to show any kind of love for Trump.”
“Anything you say and do will be used against you,” he added. “So, you know, political opponents might highlight the cooperation part when running against Newsom, if it’s Pritzker or AOC, or whoever it might be, saying, ‘I stood up to Trump, I didn’t try to play footsie with him’.”
Newsom appears to be playing a long game—prioritizing a strategy aimed at broad general election appeal, even if it risks complicating his path through a Democratic primary.
“There’s winning the primaries and then winning the generals. And I think Newsom is looking ahead, perhaps thinking that his strategy may be better to win a general election if he can get through the primary,” Johnson said.
With the 2028 race still a long way off, Democrats are still experimenting with their messaging, and strategists say it’s too early to know which approach will resonate — or who, ultimately, will break through.
“The reality is, this next election, like the last one, will be decided by a thin sliver of voters in seven states, and the key will be, where are those voters going to be and what’s the best way to reach them?” Johnson asked rhetorically.
NEWSOM SLAMS DEMOCRATS FOR NOT DOING AUTOPSY OF WHAT ‘WENT WRONG’ IN 2024 ELECTION
Jon Reinish, a Democratic strategist based in New York, said the party can’t rely on anti-Trump messaging alone, warning that voters want to hear clear solutions—not just criticism—especially with Trump no longer on the ballot in 2028.
“Hillary Clinton and Kamala Harris’s messaging was regarded as very anti-Trump. How’d they do? The criticism of Democrats has long been that they’re solely anti-Trump or anti-Republican – but we’ve heard so many times, ‘we know what you’re against, but what are you for?’ – they’ll need, finally, to address that,” Reinish said.
Marisa Schultz contributed to this report.
