Booker, Van Hollen and Khanna Join Democrats' Denver Summit After the Midterms
The 'What's Next' gathering, set for Nov. 12-14, is shaping up as an early cattle call for 2028 hopefuls and a test of the party's direction.
Sens. Cory Booker of New Jersey and Chris Van Hollen of Maryland and Rep. Ro Khanna of California have joined the lineup for a Democratic summit in Denver that opens nine days after the midterm elections, turning the event into an early stage for the party's 2028 field.
The "What's Next" summit runs Nov. 12-14 and is expected to draw more than 2,000 people, according to a person familiar with the planning. Denver is one of the cities being considered to host the 2028 Democratic National Convention. The host is Majority Democrats, a group formed last year by largely moderate officials and high-profile Democrats and chaired by Rep. Jake Auchincloss of Massachusetts. Its executive director is Rohan Patel.
Booker, Van Hollen and Khanna are all progressives who have drawn attention for possible presidential ambitions. Booker ran in 2020 and dropped out before the first primary contests. Khanna has called himself a "long-shot presidential candidate." Van Hollen has said he is "kicking the tires" on a run. All three have introduced tax plans that could preview their 2028 platforms.
They join a lineup that already included former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Sens. Raphael Warnock of Georgia, Ruben Gallego of Arizona and Chris Murphy of Connecticut. Govs. Abigail Spanberger of Virginia and Mikie Sherrill of New Jersey are also set to attend, along with other members of Congress and political strategists.
The organizers are pitching the gathering as an attempt to bridge the party's wings. Majority Democrats spokesperson Matt Corridoni said Democrats were "hat, no cattle" when it came time to live up to their "big tent" ideals, and he called the summit "an opportunity for Democrats from every wing of the party" to have difficult conversations. Patel said "Winning in 2028 will require us coming together" to build a durable majority.
The backdrop is a party that has not settled on an identity since losing the White House in 2024. Moderates and progressives disagree about its direction, and in a February CBS News poll most voters described the Democratic Party as "weak." Democrats hope to win the House in November and carry that momentum forward.
Potential candidates are already working the campaign trail. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and former Vice President Kamala Harris visited Michigan to campaign with Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed. California Gov. Gavin Newsom campaigned in New Hampshire with Rep. Chris Pappas, who is in a tight Senate race.
The summit's timing, right after Election Day, means its tone will depend heavily on the results. A strong showing would give the party's contenders a victory lap and a reason to unify, while a disappointing night would sharpen the argument over strategy that organizers say they want to have.
