2028 Democratic Presidential Race Heats Up Early with Pritzker's New Hampshire Visit

It may be 2025, but the energy in New Hampshire feels like we're already shopping for the next President in 2028.

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, billionaire, Democrat, and frequent critic of President Donald Trump, is headlining New Hampshire's biggest Democratic fundraising event this weekend. The Granite State, with its famed first-in-the-nation primary, is once again the political proving ground for hopefuls with White House dreams. Pritzker's visit is sparking plenty of speculation about his intentions for 2028, especially since early visits here are basically the political equivalent of speed dating for presidential hopefuls.

Pritzker made it clear: "We've got to be ready for the fight," he told reporters, hinting that he plans to tackle what he calls a "constitutional crisis" caused by Trump’s policies. He’s urging fellow Democrats to "stand up and fight" — not exactly the message of a guy who’s planning to hang back and watch from the sidelines.

He's the first Democrat to hit New Hampshire—or any early primary state—since the party lost the White House, the Senate, and failed to reclaim the House last November. Ouch. Not only that, but Trump and his party made inroads with key Democratic voting blocs, including Black, Hispanic, and younger voters. It’s safe to say the Democratic base is feeling feisty, frustrated, and maybe a little bit lost.

That sense of soul-searching was on display when California Governor Gavin Newsom admitted, "I don't know what the party is. I'm still struggling with that." Pritzker, on the other hand, insists he’s always known: "The Democratic Party stands up for working people, working families, civil rights, and human rights. No doubt about that, in my mind." If only everyone could see it that clearly.

With Illinois’ primary just 11 months away and the re-election filing window looming, Pritzker says he’ll announce by July whether he’ll seek a third term as governor. Of course, that hasn't stopped the rumor mill. Chicago’s Bill Daley, a fixture in Democratic circles, recently told The Wall Street Journal, "there is no doubt that he [Pritzker] is going to run." Pritzker, with a bit of a side-eye, reminded everyone Daley didn’t even back him the first time he ran for governor—and questioned the source of Daley’s scoop.

But let’s be real: It’s the possibility of a Pritzker presidential run that’s getting all the buzz. He’s no stranger to New Hampshire, having headlined events and campaigned for Democrats there in recent years. He was even considered as a VP pick for Kamala Harris’s 2024 run. His presence is definitely being read as an early audition for 2028, and veteran politicos like Jim Demers believe New Hampshire voters are eager for a leader willing to take on Trump’s policies head-on.

Behind the scenes, the 2028 Democratic primary is already bubbling. New Hampshire activists are being bombarded with fundraising emails from potential contenders, including Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, Sen. Cory Booker, Rep. Ro Khanna, and of course, Pritzker himself. Apparently, the early bird not only gets the worm but also your inbox.

Interestingly, Pritzker’s visit is happening later in the cycle than past early-bird appearances—remember when Mike Pompeo kicked off the Republican 2024 race with an Iowa visit in March 2021? The race for 2028 is off to a slightly delayed but no less dramatic start.

As the Democratic Party wrestles with its identity and direction, all eyes are now on New Hampshire and on Pritzker—whether he’s shopping for a third Illinois term, or already picking out curtains for the Oval Office.