The midterms stakes are high for these 2028 presidential prospects

As most of the political world focuses on the upcoming midterm elections, the shadow primary for the 2028 presidential contest is quietly gaining attention. Several Democratic and Republican presidential prospects have been traveling the country, raising funds and leveraging their connections to boost their party's candidates and their own White House ambitions.

Gavin Newsom, who leaves his California governor's office at the end of the year, has been a prominent Democrat during the midterms. He has made a point of campaigning in the South, visiting states like Alabama, Mississippi, North Carolina, and South Carolina, which will host the party's first presidential primary in 2028. This focus aligns with the mission of Newsom's political action committee, which aims to help his party compete in red states.

However, the South emphasis could also help him make inroads with Black voters, a crucial Democratic base.

Newsom's star power and extensive email list have bolstered his relationships with Democratic officials in states like Nevada and New Hampshire. His fundraising emails have led to a surge of donations. One of Newsom's biggest midterm contributions was supporting Proposition 50, which California voters approved last year. This proposition created a new congressional map that may allow Democrats to gain as many as five additional U.S. House seats in California during the upcoming November elections.

When it comes to Vice President JD Vance, he is the Democratic and Republican presidential prospects with the most closely tied fate to the administration's performance. The 42-year-old has been on an aggressive midterm campaign schedule, visiting states across the Midwest, South, and Alaska to promote the administration's anti-fraud efforts.

A key state for Vance will likely be Ohio, where he once served in the Senate. Vance is facing an intense midterm challenge from Jon Husted, Ohio's Republican Secretary of State. Meanwhile, Amy Acton, a Democrat, is competing with Republican Vivek Ramaswamy for the governorship in Ohio.

Among the Democrats leading the 2028 conversation, none have done as little beyond their home state as Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro. The 53-year-old has not visited any early primary states or campaigned with any midterm candidates outside of Pennsylvania. This strategy is by design, as Shapiro's main strength as a presidential candidate might be his clout in Pennsylvania, a critical swing state.

If Shapiro can demonstrate strength in key swing counties like Beaver, Luzerne, or Erie, it could help him win back working-class voters Democrats lost during the Trump era.

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear has also been making waves during the midterms. He has been touring key states to rally voters, beginning with Nevada on October 22. Beshear has also been on a national book tour, allowing him to connect with influential Democrats in early primary states. However, Beshear's spending decisions as head of the Democratic Governors Association in 2026 may pose the highest risk and reward for his 2028 presidential bid.

While he has been active in supporting Democratic candidates in traditional swing states like Wisconsin, Michigan, and Arizona, he has also pushed into Republican-leaning states like Ohio and Iowa. Democrats in other states are demanding more resources from Beshear, warning him of potential backlash if he doesn't deliver.