Rove: 3 Democratic White House hopefuls 'have elements of a winning formula' |
Rove: 3 Democratic White House hopefuls ‘have elements of a winning formula’
Republican strategist Karl Rove said Wednesday there are three Democratic presidential hopefuls — Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Sen. Cory Booker (N.J.) — who each “have elements of a winning formula.”
Rove wrote in an op-ed in The Wall Street Journal titled “Democrats in Peril, From Barcelona to Boise” that some “Democratic leaders understand their party is unpopular.”
“Still, while Mr. Schumer and others try mitigating their party’s toxicity by running independents in name only, smart Democrats understand their party needs a better message to attract voters,” Rove wrote, referring to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.). “They don’t have the complete answer, but three possible Democratic 2028 hopefuls have elements of a winning formula.”
Rove started with Beshear, who he said, “has the tone.”
“Democrats must focus on things that matter,” the former White House strategist continued. “‘Talk like a normal human being,’ he says. ‘Don’t just talk about your policy points. Talk about your ‘why’ — and the why has to be authentic.’ Of course, in telling Democrats to be authentic, he should come across as such. That’s sometimes a problem for Mr. Beshear. He’s too wooden.”
Rove moved on to Booker, who he said “got the language right” while speaking at the Michigan Democratic Convention.
“He brought the crowd to their feet as he shouted, ‘Will you stand together, unified, strong — be the hope that people need?’ He deliberately didn’t close with a Walz- or Murphy-like denunciation of Mr. Trump,” Rove wrote, referring to Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) and Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.). “He ended with a call for positive action.”
Rove gave praise to Emanuel for making “a compelling, common-sense case for a new Democratic Party during every appearance and op-ed.”
“He’s running more to the center, offering answers to real problems and criticizing his party for being out of step with middle America,” Rove added. “Capturing the right tone matters, but substance does, too.”
He called the three Democrats “outliers within their party” and suggested that the party still has “time to get things right for the midterms and 2028, but less than they think.”
Rove criticized Walz’s and Murphy’s attendance at Barcelona’s Global Progressive Mobilisation event last week, which described itself as offering “a necessary alternative to conservative and far-right forces.” Both Democrats spoke out against President Trump, who Murphy said was “the most significant threat to American democracy since the Civil War.” Walz called the U.S.-Israeli conflict in Iran “fascism.”
“Those remarks undoubtedly pleased the socialists and progressives at the conference,” Rove wrote about Walz’s and Murphy’s comments. “But they won’t add a vote to the Democratic column. The more the party’s messaging follows the Walz-Murphy line, the less attractive its candidates appear. Anyone who thinks Mr. Trump is a Nazi is already voting Democratic—or leaving the country.”
Along with Beshear, Booker and Emanuel, other Democrats are vying to potentially be the party’s nominee for president. California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) has positioned himself as an opposition leader within the party against Trump. Other Democratic governors like Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro are also rumored presidential hopefuls.
Former Vice President Kamala Harris recently said she’s “thinking about” a potential comeback after her loss to Trump in 2024. Other Biden administration alums like former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who ran against Harris in the 2020 Democratic primary, have also hinted at a 2028 run.
Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
4 GOP senators vote against adding SAVE America Act to budget package
5 takeaways from first major California governor’s debate after Swalwell exit
2 Republicans break with party as GOP defeats budget amendment to lower health ...
Senators to introduce Hot Rotisserie Chicken Act for SNAP recipients
2 GOP senators break ranks on final Senate budget vote
House Judiciary Democrats demand Patel take alcohol disorders test following ...
New York Times alleges FBI investigated journalist after report about Patel ...
Pentagon dismisses report it could take 6 months to reopen Strait of Hormuz
Collins, Sullivan break with Senate GOP leaders on amendment to reverse SNAP ...
DOJ watchdog to review department’s compliance with Epstein files law
Senate Republicans adopt budget resolution in late-night voting marathon
3 GOP senators break with leaders over addressing insurance companies’ denial ...
Senate Republican predicts Democrats will shut down government ‘right before ...
Live updates: Senate gets DHS funding rolling; Trump orders Navy to sink ...
Rove: 3 Democratic White House hopefuls ‘have elements of a winning formula’
Trump administration reclassifies state-licensed medical marijuana as less ...
RFK Jr. apologizes for comments about Black kids he claims he didn’t say
A grandmother lost everything because a cop trusted AI