Democratic Governors Association

With midterms weeks away, potential 2028 contenders Andy Beshear and Donald Trump Jr. campaigned separately in Iowa college towns, underscoring the state's enduring role as a testing ground for presidential hopefuls even though Democrats have stripped it of its early-primary status. Beshear, stumping in Ames for gubernatorial candidate Rob Sand, urged Democrats to drop "advocacy speak" in favor of plain talk, arguing that governor's races this cycle will determine whether Iowa is competitive for Democrats in 2028. Trump Jr., appearing at a packed Turning Point USA event in Iowa City, warned against a Democratic "dystopian communist hellhole," though some attendees said the tone clashed with the spirit of the late Charlie Kirk.

Both men remain long-shot contenders in early 2028 polling — Beshear trails in the Democratic field, while Trump Jr. lags behind Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio among Republicans. Vance also recently visited Iowa to support GOP candidates, signaling the invisible primary is already underway.

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and the Democratic Governors Association are each sending $1 million to support Gina Hinojosa's challenge to Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, according to The New York Times. The infusion is significant for Hinojosa, whose campaign had only about $4 million on hand at the end of last month. The move follows pressure from prominent Latino Democrats, including Rep. Joaquin Castro, who pushed the DGA to treat the race as competitive.

Hinojosa's bid has been somewhat overshadowed by Democratic Senate nominee James Talarico, who has raised more than $70 million against Republican Ken Paxton and is seen as a national fundraising star. Democrats haven't won a statewide race in Texas since 1994, and the governor's mansion has been held by Republicans since Ann Richards left office in 1995. Castro argued that winning the governor's race is the only way to stop Texas Republicans from attempting another congressional redistricting before 2028, telling the Times, "Gina is right there."

Polls show Texas Gov. Greg Abbott facing an unusually close re-election fight against Democratic state Rep. Gina Hinojosa, a sharp contrast to his more than 10-point win four years ago. Most surveys give Abbott a small single-digit lead, including a Fox News poll showing him roughly five points ahead, but a New York Times/Siena poll found Hinojosa leading 49% to 46%. Analysts attribute the tightening largely to dissatisfaction with President Trump, whose national approval has slipped, along with concerns over cost of living and gas prices eroding his support in Texas.

National Democrats are now investing in the race: Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker and the Democratic Governors Association each pledged $1 million to Hinojosa's campaign, which had lagged in fundraising compared with Abbott's $18 million war chest and Senate candidate James Talarico's $70 million haul. Talarico also leads Republican Ken Paxton in several Senate polls. Democrats haven't won statewide in Texas since 1994, and turnout remains the key variable: strong Republican mobilization likely secures Abbott's win, but low turnout could open the door for an upset.

A letter signed by 70 Latino officials urges Democratic Governors Association chair and Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear to direct campaign funds toward Gina Hinojosa's bid for Texas governor, warning that a failure to invest could cost Beshear Latino support in a future presidential run. The letter cites Texas's large Latino electorate and concerns about Republican gains with Latino voters in the last election cycle.

The DGA has so far not spent money on advertising in Texas, instead prioritizing races in Alaska, Arizona, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Michigan, Nevada, Ohio, and Wisconsin, which the organization apparently views as more competitive. Texas has not elected a Democratic governor since Ann Richards left office in the 1990s, when the state was far less reliably Republican. Whether Hinojosa can replicate Richards's appeal, particularly among suburban women, remains an open question. The dispute highlights an internal Democratic debate over where to allocate limited resources ahead of upcoming gubernatorial contests, and whether Texas represents a genuine opportunity or a distraction from more winnable races.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer headlined the Kentucky Democratic Party's Forward Together Dinner in Lexington, calling Michigan and Kentucky "road maps of hope" and arguing Democratic governance in both states shows an alternative to what she described as chaotic Republican leadership in Washington. Whitmer, vice chair of the Democratic Governors Association alongside chair Gov. Andy Beshear, cited Medicaid protections, free school meals, pre-K, and tax cuts as evidence of Democratic wins in Michigan, while criticizing GOP-backed Medicaid and SNAP cuts, tariffs, and cost-of-living increases.

The sold-out dinner, the party's largest since 2012, also spotlighted Kentucky's May 2026 gubernatorial primary between Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman and former Beshear adviser Rocky Adkins, both of whom pledged to support whichever candidate wins. Beshear, often mentioned as a potential 2028 presidential contender, declined to endorse either candidate. Speakers including U.S. Senate nominee Charles Booker and congressional candidate Zach Dembo attacked Republicans over Trump-era policies, framing the dinner as a launch point for Kentucky's midterm elections.