Current and former House Democrats, buoyed by their landslide midterm victory, are already exploring potential opportunities to run for the Senate in 2028, Axios has learned.
Why it’s important: The Democrats’ battle in 2026 — with victories in Texas, South Carolina, Kansas and perhaps even Mississippi — has some in the party reevaluating what were once considered impossible goals.
- A source close to Rep. Sharice Davids (D-Kan.) — who was re-elected by 21 percentage points in a district former Vice President Harris carried by four points in 2024 — did not rule out running against Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.).
- “All options are on the table,” the source said, adding that Davids “is currently focused on achieving concrete results and resolving the chaos caused by the extreme policies we are seeing.”
- Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) was defeated last week by Democrat Adam Hamilton, marking the first time in nearly a century that a Kansas Democrat has been elected to the U.S. Senate.
North Carolina: Rep. Don Davis is “looking into” a campaign against Republican Sen. Ted Budd, a source familiar with his thinking told Axios.
- Davis won a third term Tuesday after defeating his Republican district opponent, President Trump carried by 12 points in 2024. Republicans redrew the district with the express purpose of ensuring Davis’ loss.
- Former Rep. Wiley Nickel, who was elected Wake County prosecutor on Tuesday, would consider running for Senate if state Attorney General Jeff Jackson does not do so, a source close to him told Axios. The two served together in the House.
- Former Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper won North Carolina’s other U.S. Senate seat last week, with a landslide victory of nearly 20 percentage points over Republican Michael Whatley.
Pennsylvania: A large number of Democrats are preparing to potentially run for the seat held by Democratic Sen. John Fetterman.
- Fetterman, who has transformed from a populist firebrand to an arch-centrist, has angered much of the party by siding with Republicans on key votes.
- Rep. Chris Deluzio (D-Pa.) told Axios in a statement, “I am seriously considering my next steps and will have this conversation with my family and supporters.”
- Former Rep. Susan Wild said, “I’m not ruling anything out at this point. … I think the PA has been waiting a long time for a female senator, and that will factor into my eventual decision.”
Florida: State Rep. Angie Nixon is already hinting at a 2028 bid against Republican Sen. Ashley Moody after losing to her Tuesday by three percentage points.
- But some in the party’s centrist wing believe Nixon’s left-leaning policies and affiliation with the Democratic Socialists of America may have cost him a Democratic wave year and are looking to recruit elsewhere.
- Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.), who won re-election in a district nine points ahead of Trump in 2024 and is often mentioned as a potential candidate for statewide office, is on the list, sources said.
- Sources also pointed to Rep. Kathy Castor (D-Fla.), who won in a district that voted for Trump by 11 points, as another possible candidate. A Castor spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment.
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