The Democratic Party in full hangover. On Tuesday, Kamala Harris was not only beaten by Donald Trump, she also conceded the popular vote to him, a first for a Democratic candidate since 2004. To drive the point home, the Democratic Party also lost the majority in the Senate and appears in a bad position in the House of Representatives.
These defeats hurt for a party which was coming out of three relatively successful national elections (conquest of the House in the Midterms of 2018, election of Joe Biden in 2020 and conquest of the Senate in 2022). However, they had been in germ for several months.
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If Kamala Harris necessarily has a responsibility – despite a campaign that was intended to be reassuring, the vice-president struggled to make an impression, often appearing too in control – she was not helped by the circumstances either. While Donald Trump campaigned for almost two years, Kamala Harris only had a few weeks.
The end of the Biden generation?
The fault of Joe Biden who, after repeating for many months that he was the only one likely to beat Donald Trump, finally withdrew from the race at the end of July, after a disastrous debate against the Republican contender. Joe Biden, who will celebrate his 82nd birthday on November 20 at the White House, is expected to leave office after the transfer of power scheduled for January 20.
And if Elizabeth Warren (75 years old), Bernie Sanders (83 years old) or Nancy Pelosi (84 years old) are not decided to give up the ramp – the first two retain their position as senator and the last was re-elected to the House of Representatives – a new generation of democrats is ready to launch into the 2028 presidential race.
“The Democratic tank has never been so full. Whether at the local, state or federal level”estimated in July in The New York Times Lis Smith, one of the party's strategists. “We have so much talent among the next generation of mayors, governors, senators, congressmen and public servants”she indicated again.
Generation X governors
The first of them is Josh Shapiro51 years old and governor of Pennsylvania. Rather considered a “centrist”, he was elected in 2022 to head this state of the “Rust Belt”, an industrial region in the northeast of the United States, long supported by the Democrats but which is increasingly turning towards Donald Trump.
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Once expected to become Kamala Harris' running mate, he was overtaken by Tim Waltz60, governor of Minnesota. Little known to the general public, the latter made a good impression during the Democratic convention in August, overplaying his good nature. But he also struggled during the debate organized against Donald Trump's running mate J.D. Vance at the beginning of October.
Another popular governor, Gretchen Whitmer53 years old and at the head of Michigan since 2019. Nicknamed “the woman from Michigan” by Donald Trump, she stood out during the Covid-19 crisis, taking strong measures to prevent the spread of the virus. Like Josh Shapiro, she embodies the rather centrist current of the Democratic Party and like him, she can boast of being at the head of a swing state. “I hope that in 2028 we will see members of Generation X (born between 1965 and 1980) running for the White House”she declared in June at New York Times .
Of the same generation, Gavin Newsom presents a slightly different profile. Aged 57, he was mayor of San Francisco for seven years and has been governor of California since 2019. A progressive on social issues, in 2004 he was the first mayor of San Francisco to celebrate same-sex marriages. He also favors more gun controls. On the other hand, he is rather conservative on economic issues. His name was mentioned when Joe Biden withdrew, but Gavin Newsom ultimately lined up behind Kamala Harris.
Two other governors could also have ambitions. On the one hand, J.B. Pritzker59, elected in Illinois and heir to Hyatt hotels. On the other, Andy Beshear46, who managed to get elected in Kentucky, a state traditionally won by Republicans.
Ambitious young wolves
Another name that comes up regularly: that of Pete Buttigieg42 years old. Originally from Indiana and openly gay, he made himself known to the general public during the Democratic primary for the 2020 presidential election. He even came first in Iowa, ahead of Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, before falling in line and withdrawing his candidacy to support Joe Biden. Once in the White House, the latter appointed him Secretary of State for Transportation, a position he still holds.
Among those who could also claim to embody the future of the Democratic Party, we can cite Hakeem Jeffries54, at the head of the Democrats in the House of Representatives since 2022. Or even, the very media Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Only 35 years old, the New York elected official embodies the left wing of the Democratic Party. And if her radical positions sometimes strained the leadership of the movement, she knew how to make her place and her speech during Kamala Harris's inauguration convention was widely applauded.
L’interrogation Michelle Obama
The other question mark is named after Michelle Obama. Barack Obama's wife was personally involved in Kamala Harris' campaign but always assured that she was not interested in a political career. To the great dismay of his supporters. According to an Ipsos poll published in July, the ex-First Lady was credited with 55% favorable opinions, far ahead of Kamala Harris (37%) or Joe Biden (36%).
What role for Kamala Harris?
It remains to be seen what role will play Kamala Harris. In her first statement after her defeat, the vice-president promised her supporters to “keep fighting” .
However, since World War II, only two candidates have succeeded in gaining access to the White House after being defeated, and neither is a Democrat. The first is Richard Nixon, defeated in 1960 before being elected in 1968. The second is Donald Trump, returning to the White House after losing in 2020.
