Nate Silver’s Unscientific, Totally Subjective Breakdown of the Democrats’ Future Stars

After one of the biggest midterm landslides in recent U.S. history, the Democratic Party is undergoing a substantial redefinition of what it is.

That process must continue, because while the party had a wildly successful midterm, the Democratic brand remains unpopular.

How will this political project unfold, and who will lead it? I decided to assess and scout the people I believe will play the biggest role in directing the party’s future.

I picked 27 politicians. One group is made up of likely candidates in the 2028 derby. In that, Democrats will have an enviable problem: almost too many candidates to choose from.

Members of a second group are the rising stars of the party, or what I’ll deem the Class of 2026, who had breakthrough victories this year.

All told, there are 26 Democrats — plus a special case, Mayor Zohran Mamdani of New York, who isn’t technically in either group.