* AP…
The Democratic Party’s most ambitious politicians are courting African American activists in New York this week as the party’s unofficial 2028 presidential nomination contest takes shape at an annual conference led by Rev. Al Sharpton. […]
“Everybody’s talking about who may run for president,” said Sharpton, the National Action Network’s founder and president. “I want to first know what their vision is now, and what they’re doing now. So I’ve invited all of the people that could run.”
In addition to Shapiro, the speaking program features Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, Rep. Ro Khanna of California, and Arizona Sens. Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego.
Former Vice President Kamala Harris, the last Democratic presidential nominee, is also scheduled to speak. California Gov. Gavin Newsom, another likely contender, won’t be in attendance because of a previously scheduled family commitment, his team said, noting that he met with Sharpton earlier in the year.
* Bloomberg…
The conference is a key step in Sharpton’s endorsement process, he said. He wants to hear from the attendees about what they’ve done to combat President Donald Trump’s efforts to limit voting access and diversity, equity and inclusion programs, and what they would do if elected.
Sharpton, who ran his own unsuccessful campaign for president in 2004, also wants to observe how well the potential candidates mesh with conference attendees.
“I will be looking at their chemistry with our community,” Sharpton said.
Gov. Pritzker is scheduled for a fireside chat with Rev. Al Sharpton at 11:30 central time. Click here to watch.
Thoughts?
- Candy Dogood - Thursday, Apr 9, 26 @ 11:43 am:
===Thoughts? ===
The sentiment that JB Pritzker is going to run for President has been a refrain among all of the Rauner appointees that he kept in place when he became Governor as they continue to fail to reflect the stated values of the Governor and actively work to undermine his administration.
Every time the Governor has caught a mention on national news since he was elected the refrain continues as they use it as a basis to hold out hope that some day soon they’ll have a Governor that doesn’t hold the same values and principles that Governor Pritzker does.
If the Governor is going to run for President we can expect that he’ll announce before this time next year.
Al Sharpton is welcome to guess. I am content to wait until he says so, one way or another.
In the end, though, the fact that we’ve been talking about him running for President since he first got elected (and maybe even before then) has has negatively impacted his administration as people who actively hope for him to fail also continue to hope for his departure from state government so that their poor performance can keep on squeaking by with out being properly addressed.
- Just Me 2 - Thursday, Apr 9, 26 @ 11:50 am:
Just once I wish we had a Governor whose priority was managing the State instead of some other personal interest:
Blagojevich — priority was himself
Quinn — priority was his PR
Rauner — priority was crushing unions
Pritzker — priority is running for President
- SwSider - Thursday, Apr 9, 26 @ 12:07 pm:
I wonder if he’ll talk more about the needs for school districts to make budget cuts.
Looking at that list, it’s a shame for our state that Pritzker feels like he has to tack to the center in the primary and the left.
- Warmest - Thursday, Apr 9, 26 @ 12:14 pm:
It will be interesting to watch Pritzker try to buy another office. I have to say, I agree with Candy. Why was Rahm not invited?
- Proud Sucker - Thursday, Apr 9, 26 @ 12:16 pm:
==Just once I wish we had a Governor whose priority was managing the State instead of some other personal interest:==
Certainly a valid concern. Whereas our past three Governors priorities caused conflict with their elected position, so far Pritzker seems able to walk and chew gum at the same time. Still loving the credit upgrades and on-time budgets.
- InIllinois - Thursday, Apr 9, 26 @ 12:41 pm:
@Warmest
Just a guess, but in 2015, Sharpton said Rahm should step down as Mayor of Chicago due to his handling of the Laquan McDonald shooting.
In 2019 Sharpton supported Kim Fox when Rahm criticized her and called him a hypocrite.
He might have wrote off Rahm a while ago.
- SOIL M - Thursday, Apr 9, 26 @ 12:46 pm:
Is there any chance that Sharpton would endorse Pritzker or Shapiro? Those two both have a strong antisemitic wing of their party that they would have to overcome.
- benniefly2 - Thursday, Apr 9, 26 @ 12:56 pm:
“won’t be in attendance because of a previously scheduled family commitment”
Is that a euphemism for it conflicted with his weekly French Laundry reservation?