Clendaniel: Democrats need to voice their 2028 presidential preferences now

When I retired as the Mercury News editorial page editor in 2023, I wrote a farewell column urging readers not to give up on America, despite its many challenges.

I reiterated my strong belief in the power of the law of accumulation, which posits that every great achievement is an accumulation of hundreds of small efforts that few ever realize contributed to the outcome.

So, it is time to get to work for those of us who believe it’s imperative that Democrats win the White House in 2028. Get off the sidelines. Play your part in preserving democracy. Write emails. Send texts. Post on social media.

Every individual needs to make clear in their own way what they are seeking in a nominee. Don’t wait until the campaign is all but decided. Act now.

But who should Democrats seek as their nominee? And what attributes should they possess? A progressive who can stand up to Trump and MAGA or a moderate who will work with Republicans and woo key swing voters? A candidate with high name recognition or a new face?

U.S. Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey says the Democratic Party needs change. The Joe Biden/Chuck Schumer/Nancy Pelosi era is over. A new generation of leaders is necessary.

The key to victory in 2028 requires a restoration of hope.

“First and foremost, America needs a candidate who offers a vision for the future, someone who can overcome the hatred and vitriol that divide us,” said Silicon Valley Rep. Ro Khanna.

“Seventy percent of Americans don’t believe the American Dream is alive. The Democratic Party needs to provide new economic hope and the inspiration that JFK and Obama offered.”

Khanna is often mentioned as a potential 2028 candidate. But he must raise his political profile outside of Silicon Valley and Washington, D.C., if he is to become one of the party’s front-runners.

And that’s part of the problem. Every one of the significant candidates comes with a red flag.

Gavin Newsom? Articulate. Aggressive. Presidential stature. His attacks on Trump show his skill at standing up to Trump. But can a San Francisco Democrat whose mixed track record as governor win critical swing-state voters?

Kamala Harris? No vice president other than Richard Nixon has lost a presidential election and then won the White House. Harris ran a strong campaign under difficult circumstances and has the experience for the job.

But as Michelle Obama warned, America hasn’t shown that it is ready for a woman to be president. “That’s why I’m like, don’t even look at me about running, because you all are lying. You’re not ready for a woman. You are not.”

That would also eliminate Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who is the darling of progressive Democrats, U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

Pete Buttigieg? Articulate and widely viewed as a rising star during the 2020 campaign. But if America isn’t ready for a woman president, can Democrats afford to gamble that America is ready to elect a gay candidate to the White House?

Then there are the other governors: Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania, JB Pritzker of Illinois, Tim Walz of Minnesota and Andy Beshear of Kentucky.

All have appeal. All could lure crucial swing-state voters. But none — to date — has crafted a message that would make voters flock to the polls. None has articulated a compelling message offering Americans a future they can believe in.

That’s where you come in if you, like me, believe in the law of accumulation.

It’s time to not only stand up to the forces threatening our very democracy, but also outline what America’s next steps should be.

It’s time to focus on taking steps to end the growing inequality that is crippling our economy.

It’s time to stand up to the tech lords and insist their products be designed to meet the needs of the many, not the wealthy few.

It’s time for new voices to lead the Democratic Party.

For 250 years Americans elected leaders whose greatest legacy was ensuring that the lives of America’s youth would be better off than their parents. Better housing. Better health care. Better jobs. Better working conditions. What will our legacy be?

Ed Clendaniel was the Mercury News editorial page editor from 2018-23.