Sens. Cory Booker (D-NJ), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), and Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) are scheduled to join a gathering of Democratic officials in Denver to discuss the party’s future strategy following the upcoming midterm elections. The "What's Next" summit, scheduled for November 12 to 14, will bring together various factions of the party to evaluate the results of the 2026 races and plan for the 2028 presidential election.
The event is hosted by Majority Democrats, an organization formed last year by largely moderate elected officials and other party figures. The group, chaired by Rep. Jake Auchincloss (D-MA), states its goal is to take lessons from the 2026 midterms into the upcoming presidential cycle. According to organizers, the summit aims to facilitate discussions between leading voices from across different factions within the party, including moderate and progressive wings.
Booker, Van Hollen, and Khanna join an attendee list that includes other potential 2028 presidential candidates, such as former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Sens. Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), and Chris Murphy (D-CT). Govs. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) and Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ) are also slated to attend. Organizers expect more than 2,000 participants at the Denver event, which is being held in a city under consideration for the 2028 Democratic National Convention.
For individual voters and party members, these discussions may shape the policy priorities—such as the tax plans introduced by Booker, Van Hollen, and Khanna—that will appear in future campaign messaging. The "What's Next" summit serves as an attempt to have difficult conversations between party wings to win in 2028.
Potential knock-on effects include the early launch of 2028 presidential campaigns shortly after the midterms conclude. Following the summit’s conclusion on November 14, the party will continue its selection process for the 2028 convention city. Currently, Democrats are focused on the November midterm elections, where they seek to gain control of the House of Representatives.