But one young, up-and-coming figure says he is not planning to jump into the race, CNN noted.
Maryland Democratic Gov. Wes Moore says he will not run for president in 2028, despite being frequently touted among Democrats as a prospective presidential contender.
That hasn’t prevented continuous speculation about his future political aspirations, especially since he continues to make engagements outside of Maryland, which boost his national image. On Friday, he will fly to South Carolina, an early presidential primary state, to speak at the Blue Palmetto Dinner.
When questioned about 2028, the governor was straightforward.
“I’m not running,” Moore told The Associated Press in an interview. He also said, when asked, that he isn’t trying to get his name in the conversation for a potential vice presidential candidacy, either.
Moore downplayed his high-profile trips to battleground states, including a recent trip to South Carolina.
“And people should get very used to me going all over the country bringing business back to Maryland, because that’s exactly what I plan on doing as long as I’m the governor of the state,” Moore said after a dedication in Annapolis for a memorial to former Rep. Parren Mitchell.
Moore, who is in the third year of his first term, expects to compete for reelection in predominantly Democratic Maryland next year. He said becoming the state’s governor during a difficult period requires his whole attention.
Another name continues to be floated as making early moves before 2028: Pete Buttigieg.
Buttigieg continues to force his way into the digital media sphere, defying traditional Democratic standards as talk of a presidential run grows.
The former secretary came to Washington this week to attend an event with Democratic content producers and make some media appearances, as talk mounts about a 2028 presidential run following Buttigieg’s revelation that he will not compete for the open Michigan Senate or gubernatorial seat.
Buttigieg spoke with the Washington Examiner about his views on new media, how to engage people who do not identify with established parties, the current political landscape, and what he is doing to assure the success of his party after leaving the Biden administration.
“I’m using my voice best I can in traditional media and new media, and I’m going to continue having conversations with neighbors, with voters, talking about how we could have a better way,” Buttigieg told the Washington Examiner. “I don’t know what that means for me, politically or professionally, a long way from making any decisions about that, but I know that’s what I need to be doing right now.”
Ezra Klein of the New York Times labeled Buttigieg the “Democratic Party’s acknowledged best-of-class communicator” last year, just weeks before the Democrats suffered a severe defeat in November.
Throughout the 2024 presidential campaign, President Donald Trump made several visits on podcasts and forums popular among young people, one of which being Joe Rogan’s podcast.
“It’s certainly shadow primary season. Pete’s strategy so far is on point,” influencer and CEO of Girl and the Gov Sammy Kanter told the Washington Examiner.
“He’s going on podcasts, and with that, he’s meeting Americans where they are on both sides of the aisle. He’s interacting with creators and taking the online sphere in a serious manner, as it should be. And he’s excelling in that space because he is able to explain complex happenings in an approachable way,” Kanter continued.
In April, Buttigieg cleared the path for a 2028 presidential campaign after announcing that he would not run for Michigan’s open U.S. Senate seat.
The television screen felt suffocating. The air in the newsroom was thick with anticipation, the kind that precedes a storm. On every major network, the breaking news banner flashed crimson and urgent: Texas Jury Delivers Brutal Verdict — Jasmine Crockett Responds LIVE.
For weeks, the nation had watched the trial unfold—a spectacle of legal drama and political intrigue. Jasmine Crockett, once a rising star in the Democratic Party, now sat at the center of a controversy that threatened to unravel not just her career, but the fragile trust Americans placed in their leaders.
The verdict came swiftly, almost mercilessly. Guilty—the word echoed through the chambers, through the homes of millions, through the heart of Jasmine herself.
The panel of jurors, faces impassive, had delivered their decision. The allegations—misuse of campaign funds, obstruction, and a secret that had haunted Jasmine for years—were now public record. The commentary was immediate, relentless. Some called it justice. Others called it a witch hunt.
But everyone waited for one thing: Jasmine Crockett’s response.
Jasmine Crockett’s team had spent the morning drafting statements, rehearsing lines, preparing for every possible outcome. But when the cameras rolled, Jasmine dismissed them all.
She sat alone in a stark studio, the lights harsh, the silence deafening. Her face was tense, eyes rimmed red from sleepless nights. She wore a simple navy suit—no jewelry, no makeup, nothing to distract from the gravity of the moment.
The anchor’s introduction was brief. “Jasmine Crockett joins us now, moments after the verdict.”
Jasmine inhaled, her hands trembling just out of frame. The world watched, waiting for her to dodge, to deflect, to spin.
But Jasmine Crockett was done hiding.
Her voice, when it came, was cold and measured, but underneath was a tremor of pain.
“I know what you’re expecting,” Jasmine began. “You want me to deny, to fight, to say this isn’t true. But I can’t do that anymore.”
She paused, the weight of her words settling over the audience.
“For years, I convinced myself I was doing what had to be done. For my district. For my party. For the people who believed in me. But somewhere along the way, I lost sight of what was right.”
The confession was short, almost brutal in its simplicity.
“I misused funds. I lied to protect myself. I let ambition blind me to the consequences. And I’m sorry.”
The anchor stared, stunned. The producers scrambled, unsure whether to cut to commercial or let the moment play out.
Jasmine continued, her voice growing steadier. “I know this will disappoint many. Some will hate me. Some will say I was always corrupt. But I want you to know the truth, because I owe you that—not as a politician, but as a citizen of this country.”
Within seconds, social media exploded. Hashtags trended: #CrockettConfession, #TexasVerdict, #TruthHurts. The comments split in two—some sneering, others stunned, many expressing a kind of sorrow that felt personal.
“She finally said it. Respect.”
“Lock her up. No mercy.”
“This is what accountability looks like.”
The pundits rushed to dissect every syllable. Was this genuine remorse, or a calculated move to salvage reputation? Was Jasmine a victim of a broken system, or an architect of her own downfall?
In living rooms and offices, the biggest question surfaced: What truth could possibly make her bow her head in admission?
To understand Jasmine’s confession, one must go back—to the girl who grew up in Dallas, the daughter of a schoolteacher and a mechanic. Jasmine Crockett was bright, ambitious, and stubbornly idealistic. She believed in justice, in the power of words, in the promise of America.
Her rise was rapid. Law school, community activism, a seat in the Texas legislature. She spoke with fire, fought for the marginalized, and won hearts across the state.
But politics is a game played in shadows. Jasmine learned quickly that survival meant compromise. She accepted donations from questionable sources, made deals she’d later regret, and justified every decision as necessary.
Her staff noticed the change. The long hours, the secrecy, the moments of doubt. But Jasmine pressed on, convinced she could fix everything—if only she climbed high enough.
The scandal began as a whisper—a leaked memo, a suspicious transaction, rumors swirling in Austin’s corridors. Jasmine denied it all, at first. She was careful, meticulous, but the walls closed in.
Investigators found discrepancies. The opposition pounced, and the media followed. Jasmine’s friends begged her to fight, to use every tool at her disposal.
But she was tired. Tired of lying, of pretending, of the constant fear.
The night before the verdict, Jasmine sat alone in her apartment, staring at the city lights. She thought of her parents, her supporters, the promises she’d made. She knew what she had to do.
Back in the studio, Jasmine’s confession hung in the air. The anchor, finally finding her voice, asked, “Why admit this now?”
Jasmine looked straight into the camera. “Because I can’t ask America to trust me if I won’t trust America with the truth. Because my mistakes hurt people. And because I believe—I have to believe—that honesty still matters.”
She spoke of the pressures of office, the temptations, the loneliness. She spoke of the good she’d tried to do, and the harm she’d caused.
“I wish I could undo it,” she said softly. “But all I can do now is tell you the truth, and accept whatever comes next.”
The confession changed everything. Jasmine Crockett was no longer just a politician—she was a symbol, a cautionary tale, a mirror for the nation’s own struggles with integrity.
Her party distanced itself, issuing terse statements about accountability. Her opponents celebrated, but some admitted grudging respect for her honesty.
The public response was more complex. Some saw Jasmine as a hero for owning her mistakes. Others saw her as proof that the system was rotten. Many simply felt betrayed.
Journalists dug deeper, uncovering more details—the donors, the deals, the moments where Jasmine could have chosen differently. But the heart of the story was her confession, broadcast to millions, a moment of raw vulnerability rarely seen in American politics.
In the weeks that followed, Jasmine Crockett disappeared from the public eye. She resigned her seat, withdrew from all appearances, and issued a formal apology to her constituents.
But the conversation she started did not end. Across the country, politicians were asked harder questions. Citizens demanded transparency. The idea that truth could matter, even when it hurt, gained new currency.
Jasmine was invited to speak at universities, to write op-eds, to participate in forums about ethics and leadership. Some wanted her to run again, to prove that redemption was possible.
She declined, for now. “I need to find myself outside of politics,” she wrote in a letter to supporters. “I need to learn how to be honest, not just with America, but with myself.”
Years from now, historians may debate Jasmine Crockett’s place in American history. Was she a tragic figure, undone by ambition? Or a pioneer, courageous enough to speak the truth when it mattered most?
For now, her story remains a lesson—about power, temptation, and the cost of honesty.
In the end, Jasmine Crockett’s confession did not fix everything. It did not erase the pain or restore trust overnight. But it reminded millions that even in the darkest moments, there is room for truth.
And sometimes, that truth is enough to shake a nation.