Obama aide anoints the next Democrat presidential candidate and delivers damning verdict on Kamala's future
Hakeem Jeffries could be the next presidential candidate to run for the Democrats when it comes to the 2028 presidential election.
Although still four years away, anger and soul-searching has taken hold of the Democratic Party after Kamala Harris' election loss that left some party officials blindsided.
Some party members believe plans should already start to be made as to how the Democrats will come back from such a devastating defeat and who might be the leader to take them there, given many now-familiar names may be leaving the political stage.
Brett Bruen, a former Obama White House official, believes the Democrats must use this moment to reassess their strategy or risk being further marginalized politically in the future.
Could Hakeem Jeffries be the next presidential candidate to run for the Democrats when it comes to the 2028 presidential election?
Brett Bruen, a former Obama White House official, believes the Democrats must use this moment to reassess their strategy or risk being further marginalized politically in the future
Bruen believes New York representative Hakeem Jeffries, 54, the current House Minority Leader, could be the top contender to fill the leadership vacuum.
'Hakeem Jeffries, if he is able to ascend to the speakership, is the clear next leader,' Bruen said.
Ahead of the 2028 primaries other potential Democratic leaders including governors including Gavin Newsom, JB Pritzker, and Gretchen Whitmer, may enter the fray - but Jerffies could have the time to bed into a leadership role should he secure the Speakership.
While Newsom might have been seen as 'heir' to Biden at one point, he would likely not be a popular choice among party members having failed to manage California's homelessness and drug crisis, while also being far too liberal for the party.
The former Obama aide says he is wary about veering too far left and emphasized the need for a candidate who can reconnect with Middle America.
'The next Democratic leader must resonate with voters in regions where the party struggled this time,' he told The Sun, highlighting the importance of regaining trust among working-class voters.
As for Harris, the self-styled underdog taking on her Republican rival, Donald Trump, having joined the race a little over three months ago, the nature of her loss means she is unlikely to be front and center of the party ever again.
Some have suggested she might make a run for a California senate seat but Bruen believes the scale of last week's defeat means Harris' political career is effectively over.
'I don't think, after the debacle of last week, you can make another run for the presidency,' Bruen said.
For Barack Obama, stepping back from the Democratic Party may be both inevitable and necessary if the party is to recover
The Clintons and Obamas are licking their wounds after their influence behind scenes in having Biden step aside and securing Harris' nomination spectacularly backfired,
After Biden stepped aside, Harris' defeat is the Democrats' second bitter loss to Trump over the past three elections
Similarly, with the Clintons and Obamas now licking their wounds after their influence behind scenes in having Biden step aside and securing Harris' nomination spectacularly backfired, now could be the best time for the Democrats to do a hard reset as they usher in a new era.
While both Clintons and Obama had long been seen as power brokers within the party, the crushing defeat has raised questions about their continued influence and relevance in shaping the party's future.
Insiders suggest that the influence of the Clinton and Obama political machines, once considered indispensable, may now be seen as a liability.
In recent years, the Democratic Party has become increasingly divided between its progressive and moderate wings, and some may now believe the Clintons and Obamas no longer reflect the party's future direction.
Indeed, calls for a reckoning within the Democratic Party have been coming from both donors and voters after Harris' loss.
With Biden history, there is a growing consensus within the Democratic Party that it needs to embrace new leadership
While Newsom might have been seen as 'heir' to Biden at one point, he would likely not be a popular choice among party members having failed to manage California's homelessness and drug crisis, while also being far too liberal for the party
The party 'needs a complete reboot,' hedge fund manager Bill Ackman, a longtime Democratic donor who endorsed Trump in 2024, posted on X last week.
'The party lied to the American people about the cognitive health and fitness of the president,' he said, and then didn't hold a primary to replace him.
Harris' defeat is the Democrats' second bitter loss to Trump over the past three elections.
Hillary Clinton's 2016 defeat had paved the way for Biden to run.
'We dug out of a deep hole but not enough. A devastating loss,' David Plouffe, senior adviser to the campaign, wrote on X, a remark that seemed to reference Biden's weak polls before he dropped out of the race.
Bruen said last week's election results highlight deep flaws within the Democratic Party's approach, and wants to see the Democrats quickly regroup in order to prevent any long-term damage
Whomever the party chooses next, it must seek to avoid a lengthy internal battle that could further split the party and weaken its position.
'We need to focus on building a clear and cohesive message, not on infighting,' he said.
Bruen said last week's election results highlight deep flaws within the Democratic Party's approach, and wants to see the Democrats quickly regroup in order to prevent any long-term damage.
Bruen said he believes the scale of the loss reflects a broader disconnect between the party and large swaths of the electorate, in the middle of the country.
He believes the Democrats have lost their footing with working-class voters and those in rural areas allowing the Republicans to define the narrative, and as a result, alienating a critical base.
He notes the party's strategy of focusing heavily on progressive social issues without adequately addressing economic and cultural concerns is what cost them dearly.
Swinging to the populist left in response to a populist right will only deepen the divide Bruen believes with a balanced approach that appeals to a broad spectrum of Americans.
Looking ahead, Bruen stressed the Democratic Party must learn from its mistakes if it hopes to reclaim the presidency in 2028.
Trump has played it shrewd by having rising star Ohio Senator and Vice President-elect JD Vance, who is still just 40, poised to take over the MAGA mantle from Trump once he reaches the end of his second term in 2028
He believes that Trump has played it shrewd by having rising star Ohio Senator and Vice President-elect JD Vance, who is still just 40, poised to take over the MAGA mantle from Trump once he reaches the end of his second term in 2028.
Vance is essentially Trump's 'heir apparent' and could well ascend to the presidency at that time unless the Democrats regroup quickly.
'This is clearly Trump's victory, and it will be interesting to see what happens after Trump leaves office, and you have another Republican run for the presidency,' Bruen said.
As the Democrats face an uncertain future, Bruen's comments underscore the urgency of the moment the Democrats now find themselves in.
