Democrats’ 2028 Primary: Hopefuls Are Running on Misery

As Axios reporters Alex Thompson and Holly Otterbein amusingly put it, the Democratic Party’s 2028 presidential aspirants are kicking off their respective campaigns in a “striking way.” Their introductory pitch to potential Democratic primary voters leans heavily into the “childhood traumas” they experienced, including “childhood resentments, family chaos, and fighting with their parents.”

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro wrote extensively about his “unhappy childhood home” in his recently published memoir, Where We Keep the Light. The experience taught him how to deal with emotional distress and keep it contained. “I had to anticipate a problem or a pain point before there was a blowup,” he wrote.

About the Author

Noah Rothman

Noah Rothman is a senior writer at National Review. His third book, Blood and Progress: A Century of Left-Wing Violence, was published by Hachette in May 2026.

Featured Tags

As Axios reporters Alex Thompson and Holly Otterbein amusingly put it, the Democratic Party’s 2028 presidential aspirants are kicking off their respective campaigns in a “striking way.” Their introductory pitch to potential Democratic primary voters leans heavily into the “childhood traumas” they experienced, including “childhood resentments, family chaos, and fighting with their parents.”

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro wrote extensively about his “unhappy childhood home” in his recently published memoir, Where We Keep the Light. The experience taught him how to deal with emotional distress and keep it contained. “I had to anticipate a problem or a pain point before there was a blowup,” he wrote.

About the Author

Noah Rothman

Noah Rothman is a senior writer at National Review. His third book, Blood and Progress: A Century of Left-Wing Violence, was published by Hachette in May 2026.