Democratic candidates in this year’s midterm elections are signaling varied approaches to aligning with prominent figures within their party, reflecting broader strategic considerations ahead of the 2028 presidential race. In one of the nation’s most closely watched House contests—New York’s suburban district north of New York City—Democrat Cait Conley, an Army combat veteran and former national security expert in the Biden administration, has shown caution in publicly associating with high-profile Democrats such as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
In early September, Conley declined to campaign alongside Ocasio-Cortez during an interview with CNN. Yet within days, she appeared at rallies with former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Senator Mark Kelly, both considered potential 2028 presidential candidates, suggesting a calculated choice to focus on more moderate figures. Conley’s campaign did not clarify whether former Vice President Kamala Harris—who lost the 2024 election and is also regarded as a potential 2028 contender—has been invited to campaign locally.
Conley’s measured approach aligns with a broader trend among Democratic candidates in swing and red-leaning states. Several campaigns, including those of Senate candidates Adam Hamilton in Kansas and Josh Turek in Iowa, as well as Alaska Senate candidate Mary Peltola and Wisconsin House candidate Rebecca Cooke, have declined overt support from Harris. While Cooke has courted Buttigieg and Kelly, some candidates have distanced themselves from Ocasio-Cortez, whose progressive positions, such as calls to defund the police and abolish Immigration and Customs Enforcement, remain controversial among moderate voters.
Experts suggest these choices reflect strategic efforts to appeal to independents and moderate constituents critical in competitive districts. Melissa DeRosa, a Democratic strategist, noted that candidates often favor surrogates perceived as "unobjectionable" rather than those who energize the party’s progressive base but risk alienating swing voters. Buttigieg, who ran unsuccessfully for president in 2019, has campaigned nationwide with candidates in more than 30 states, leveraging a disciplined and articulate image that avoids ideological controversy.
Meanwhile, Ocasio-Cortez continues to campaign vigorously for progressive candidates in key races, including Senate hopefuls Angie Nixon in Florida and Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan. Despite mixed support from fellow Democrats, she has not ruled out a presidential run in 2028 and remains a leading figure in some national polls.
Former Vice President Kamala Harris has likewise maintained an active presence on the trail, campaigning recently in Michigan, Nevada, and Alabama, although her 2024 campaign shortcomings—cited in a Democratic National Committee review as a failure to mobilize pro-Biden voters—have made some Democrats wary. Harris has characterized her support for candidates’ independent decisions on campaign surrogates as pragmatically focused on winning elections.
Former Democratic National Committee chair Donna Brazile emphasized that such campaign choices are driven by electoral pragmatism in conservative or purple states rather than issues related to gender. “They must appeal to center-right voters or independent-leaning Republicans,” she said.
Political commentators observe that midterm campaigns nationwide are “hyper-local,” focusing less on national figures’ personalities and more on tailored messaging to voters. Former South Carolina legislator Bakari Sellers noted the delicate balance candidates seek between leveraging popular figures for fundraising and excitement while avoiding divisive associations that could complicate their campaigns in competitive districts.
As the midterms unfold, the presence and absence of top Democrats on the campaign trail may offer insight into the evolving landscape of the party’s future leadership, even as local dynamics continue to shape outcomes across the country.