Full Breakdown
Democrats Convene “What’s Next” Summit to Shape 2028 Strategy
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event – Denver summit outlines post-midterm roadmap
From November 12 through later in the week, Majority Democrats will host the “What’s Next” summit in Denver. The three-day gathering follows the recent midterms, which Democrats hope to use as a springboard to reclaim the White House in 2028. Attendees include former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, former U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel, Senators Ruben Gallego, Chris Murphy, Raphael Warnock, and Elissa Slotkin, as well as Governors Mikie Sherrill and Abigail Spanberger. Party strategists David Axelrod, Quentin Fulks, and Morris Katz will also take part. The event is organized by Majority Democrats, a group launched last year to expand Democratic wins in new locales.
Background & Context – 2024 loss, women voters, and the MAHA movement
The 2024 presidential race saw former President Donald Trump defeat former Vice President Kamala Harris, a loss analysts link to a “messy” primary and a disconnect with swing-state voters. Women’s voting patterns proved decisive: President Joe Biden won women by 12 points in 2020, while Harris’s margin fell to seven points in 2024. A KFF poll earlier this year found that 41 percent of Americans support the MAHA (Medical Autonomy & Health Advocacy) movement, which emphasizes lower healthcare costs (42 percent of supporters) and tighter regulation of food additives and pesticides (21 percent).
Key Figures & Groups – Who is shaping the discussion
- Pete Buttigieg – former Transportation Secretary.
- Rahm Emanuel – former ambassador to Japan.
- Ruben Gallego – Arizona senator.
- Raphael Warnock – Georgia senator.
- Elissa Slotkin – Michigan senator.
- Jake Auchincloss – Massachusetts representative, chair of Majority Democrats.
- Majority Democrats – organizer of the summit and sponsor of the “What’s Next” PAC.
- MAHA movement – coalition focused on medical autonomy and chemical-additive regulation.
Data & Statistics – Numbers that drive strategy
- 41 percent of Americans support MAHA (KFF poll).
- 42 percent of MAHA supporters prioritize lowering health-care costs; 21 percent prioritize restricting chemical additives; 10 percent prioritize vaccine-safety reevaluation.
- In 2024, Trump carried a majority of white women, including more than six in ten white women without college degrees.
- Abortion-rights measures passed in Arizona, Missouri, Montana, and Nevada—states that voted for Trump.
- The summit will feature 33 identified “chapter-writers” who will debate competing visions for the party’s future.
Official Statements & Responses – Party leaders outline goals
Massachusetts Rep. Jake Auchincloss said the summit is “not a policy conference nor a talk shop on tactics.” Organizers highlighted Denver’s potential as a future 2028 Democratic National Convention site, signaling a long-term geographic strategy. Project 270, a separate Democratic effort, will publish monthly battleground-state match-up polls that pit Democratic hopefuls against Republican candidates such as Vice President JD Vance.
Criticism & Opposition – Debate over candidate selection and messaging
Former South Carolina legislator Fletcher Smith suggested the party should “move on” from former Vice President Kamala Harris, urging younger leaders to take the helm. Democratic strategist Kaivan Shroff argued that a fresh face, such as a “Pritzker,” would have the advantage of introducing a new story to voters.
What’s Next – Upcoming milestones
The “What’s Next” summit will run November 12-13 in Denver, providing a platform for the 33 participants to shape the party’s 2028 roadmap. Project 270 will begin publishing its battleground-state polling series later this year, offering continuous data to inform candidate positioning ahead of the next presidential cycle.