Conservatives forecast 2028 race: Vance favored, Shapiro seen as Democrat front-runner at AmericaFest
At AmericaFest in Phoenix, attendees outline a young, two-candidate framework for 2028, with JD Vance on the GOP side and Josh Shapiro as the leading Democrat contender, signaling potential shifts in party dynamics.
PHOENIX — The 2028 presidential race is taking shape as conservatives cluster around two emerging names. At AmericaFest, attendees identified Vice President JD Vance as the odds-on Republican nominee and Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro as the leading Democratic contender among potential options. The two younger figures, Vance at 41 and Shapiro at 52, could reshape the political map after 2024, with Shapiro’s profile in Pennsylvania cited as a potential lane back to the Democrats’ column.
Shapiro has repeatedly dismissed talk of a White House bid. In an interview with HBO's Bill Maher, he said he is not an expert on Beltway politics and lives in the real world in Pennsylvania where budgets must be balanced. Despite that stance, attendees considered him more viable than California Governor Gavin Newsom in a hypothetical 2028 matchup.
Barbara, a voter from Camarillo, California, said Vance would be a strong candidate from the team that Trump built and that Shapiro would likely be the Democrats’ most credible challenger to Newsom in a race that pits two of the young faces in the field. Nick, from Nashville, said he sees Shapiro as the Democrats’ strongest prospect, though he acknowledged there could be other plausible nominees such as Newsom or Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., and that the party might rally behind Shapiro if the field narrowed.
Karen, from Wisconsin, told Fox News Digital she hopes the GOP nominates Vance or Marco Rubio and urged renewed youth involvement. Amy, from Michigan, predicted Shapiro would be the Democratic frontrunner in 2028, envisioning a contest between Vance and Shapiro. Elizabeth, from San Diego, said she fears the nomination could tilt toward Newsom or Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, while Ed, also from San Diego, predicted either Vance or Rubio could carry the Republican banner.
Gavin Newsom has been identified by Politico as a Democratic frontrunner by some observers, a dynamic that many attendees said would complicate the path for a Shapiro bid if Newsom or other established figures consolidate support. A representative for Shapiro's 2026 gubernatorial re-election campaign did not respond to requests for comment.
The snapshots from AmericaFest reflect early conversations about the 2028 race and indicate that, even before primary battles begin in earnest, voters expect a contest that could redefine regional strongholds and generate an energetic, youth-influenced direction for both parties. The event drew attendees from across the country who see potential shifts in the party coalitions and the leadership profiles likely to shape the next presidential cycle.
