Why Pritzker Is Rising and Buttigieg Is Slipping in the "8 for '28" Dem Nomination Rankings, with Dem Party Experts episode artwork

EPISODE · Jan 13, 2026 · 1H 16M

Why Pritzker Is Rising and Buttigieg Is Slipping in the "8 for '28" Dem Nomination Rankings, with Dem Party Experts

from Next Up with Mark Halperin · host MK Media

Mark kicks off today’s episode with the January return of his signature “8 for ’28” reported monologue, revealing how the Democratic field is already shifting just months into the invisible primary. He walks through the latest shakeups in his rankings, why Gavin Newsom and Josh Shapiro remain firmly at the top, which candidates are gaining ground, and why others are slipping. Mark also lays out the biggest unanswered questions facing each contender — from fundraising and coalition-building to electability — and explains the tests he believes will determine who can actually win the Democratic presidential nomination in 2028.Then Democratic strategists Karen Skelton and Patti Solis Doyle weigh in, offering their candid assessments of the field. They debate who truly belongs in the top tier, whether Pete Buttigieg has hit a ceiling, why Kamala Harris’s path back may be narrower than it appears, and whether 2028 could finally be Rahm Emanuel’s moment. The conversation also explores AOC’s upside, Ro Khanna’s recent surge of attention, and which candidates Democrats are still watching closely as the race begins to take shape.The episode also features an in-depth interview with Mike Rogers, who explains why he’s running again for the U.S. Senate and outlines his plans to fix Michigan’s future — from housing and manufacturing to AI, national security, and competing with China. Bank On Yourself: Discover the retirement plan banks Don't want you to know about—get your free report at https://BankOnYourself.com/MarkExpressVPN: Visit https://ExpressVPN.com/MARK to find out how you can get up to four extra months.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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Why Pritzker Is Rising and Buttigieg Is Slipping in the "8 for '28" Dem Nomination Rankings, with Dem Party Experts

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