Scoop: Democrats eyeing 2028 bids court Warren
· Axios
Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, one of most influential leaders in the progressive movement, is being publicly and privately courted by Democrats eyeing presidential bids in 2028 — a sign they're trying to build up their lefty credentials.
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Why it matters: Progressives are on the rise in the party, and Warren is a key ally to have. She lost her bid for the White House in 2020 but played a major role in shaping Joe Biden's presidency by installing her allies in his administration.
- Her moves haven't been without controversy. Some centrist Democrats worry that Warren has helped pushed the party too far to the left.
Zoom in: Now, Warren's working to put her stamp on the 2028 Democratic primary. She met privately with Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear for tea this month and has a texting relationship with California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Axios has learned.
- Both potential contenders for president are more moderate than Warren, a frequent target of President Trump and conservatives because of her push for consumer protections and corporate regulation.
- Warren also has been talking with former Biden and Obama officials about how a future Democratic president could reshape the federal government in light of Trump's DOGE cuts, a person familiar with the discussions told us.
Newsom took a major step to woo Warren World when he tapped one of the senator's protégés, Rohit Chopra, to lead a new consumer agency in California this month.
- A few months earlier, Warren had been spotted at a restaurant with Newsom in San Francisco.
- Warren's relationship with Newsom's circle goes back years: His wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, endorsed Warren for president in 2020.
Warren likewise has teamed up with New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a fellow progressive and potential 2028 contender, on policy.
- In February, AOC became the House co-lead on a bill by Warren aimed at implementing universal child care.
What they're saying: In an interview with Axios, Warren praised Beshear's efforts to expand pre-K access in his state. She said that during their meeting, they discussed the prospect of universal pre-K at the federal level.
- "He talked about the difference it would make for families in Kentucky," she said. "I leaned back and thought: 'This is someone who gets it. He's not checking the box.'"
- Warren also had warm words for AOC — saying that she "does the hard work and digs deep on policy" — and praised Newsom's work to expand free pre-K in California.
The other side: Liam Kerr, co-founder of the center-left WelcomePAC, expressed dismay that potential presidential candidates are meeting with Warren.
- "Elizabeth Warren literally hired 1,000 people for her presidential campaign, got 7% in South Carolina, and then seemingly hired 1,000 people into the Biden administration," he said.
- "Not sure which of those three [things] candidates want advice on, but hopefully not the last one," Kerr added.
Zoom out: Besides meeting with potential 2028ers, Warren has been making a push to shape the next presidential primary — and has suggested there's one potential 2028er she's less pleased with.
- At a summit held by the liberal group Center for American Progress in D.C. last week, Warren argued that 2028 Democratic hopefuls should make child care a priority.
- In another speech this year, she criticized former Vice President Harris' lukewarm approach to ex-Federal Trade Commission chair and Warren ally Lina Khan in the 2024 campaign.
- At the time, some Democratic donors were urging Harris to fire Khan, saying Khan's aggressive push against monopolies was too anti-business.
- "To her credit, the vice president didn't promise to fire Lina Khan," Warren said at the time. "But she didn't promise not to fire her, either."