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Guest Essay
Nov. 15, 2026, 1:00 a.m. ET
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· 12:22 min
After one of the biggest midterm landslides in recent U.S. history, the Democratic Party is undergoing a substantial redefinition of what it is.
That process must continue, because while the party had a wildly successful midterm, the Democratic brand remains unpopular.
How will this political project unfold, and who will lead it? I decided to assess and scout the people I believe will play the biggest role in directing the party’s future.
I picked 27 politicians. One group is made up of likely candidates in the 2028 derby. In that, Democrats will have an enviable problem: almost too many candidates to choose from.
Members of a second group are the rising stars of the party, or what I’ll deem the Class of 2026, who had breakthrough victories this year.
All told, there are 26 Democrats — plus a special case, Mayor Zohran Mamdani of New York, who isn’t technically in either group.
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Source: The New York Times · Nate Silver
At a glance
- Topic
- Politics
- Country
- 🇺🇸 US
- Publisher language
- EN
- Added to Allnira