Can a Jew win the Democratic presidential nomination?

It’s the question on many people’s minds, though it may not be on their lips. To utter it out loud would be to imply something about the Democratic Party that most people — including many Democrats — don’t want to admit. Can a Jew win the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination? 

It’s an important question because the Democratic presidential primary may be a very crowded race. As it stands, four of the potential candidates are Jewish, and two — former Chicago mayor and Rep. Rahm Emanuel and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro — could be formidable candidates. A third, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, is also reportedly considering a run. And there may be more.

If a Jew cannot win the nomination, Democrats are limiting their ability to put forth the best possible general-election candidate. 

Normally, both Emanuel and Shapiro would be odds-on favorites. Emanuel was a three-term congressman, chief of staff to President Barack Obama, mayor of Chicago, and U.S. ambassador to Japan. Plus, he’s very articulate, proposing public policy reforms and laying out a Democratic plan for victory. Importantly, he may be one of the best-connected Democrats in the country, with access to major donors and party leaders.

Shapiro also has an impressive background, having served as a Pennsylvania state representative, chair of the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners, state attorney general and the current governor of a large swing state. Had Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee in 2024, chosen Shapiro to be her running mate, she might have won the Keystone State, and perhaps a few other swing states.

But the widespread suspicion is that Harris chose........

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