Democrats Converge on Denver to Debate Party's Future After Midterm Wins

Fresh from winning control of the US Congress in the midterm elections, Democrats are gathering in Denver on Thursday for a conference devoted to the future of the party.

The two-day event, titled What's Next, presents itself as a forum to debate the party's direction, drawing potential presidential candidates for 2028, newly elected lawmakers, party strategists and established Democratic leaders.

The conference was organized before the midterms by a new group called Majority Democrats, chaired by Massachusetts Representative Jake Auchincloss.

On its website, the moderate group presents itself as an alternative to "an old establishment" that "sells mediocrity disguised as moderation" and to an activist left that "demands purity disguised as justice." Its members, the group says, are "willing to challenge the establishment and break with their party when it means standing up for the people they actually represent."

Not everyone on the left is convinced. Some progressives argue the organizers' vision for the party lacks ambition, pointing to its support for a public health insurance option it calls "Medicare for Americans" instead of a full Medicare for All system.

The gathering comes as Democrats prepare to take control of both the House and the Senate in January. Party leaders must decide how to use their majorities to challenge Trump in the final two years of his presidency, while beginning to look ahead to 2028.

The announced attendees include Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and New Jersey Senator Cory Booker, all seen as potential contenders for the Democratic presidential nomination in the next election. They will be joined by newcomers who flipped seats in last week's midterms, including Texas Senator-elect James Talarico and Iowa Senator-elect Josh Turek.

California Representative Ro Khanna, who has described himself as a "long-shot presidential candidate," is also on the list, as is Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen, who has said he is "kicking the tires" on a possible 2028 run.

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, expected to become the next House speaker, is a confirmed attendee despite skepticism among some on the party's left about the current leadership. He will speak on Friday about the 120th Congress, which begins next year.

Khanna and Van Hollen will join New Jersey Senator Andy Kim for a discussion on "The Trust Deficit," while Shapiro is scheduled to speak with Senators Elissa Slotkin and Ruben Gallego about the next era of the Democratic Party. Missing from the published speaker list are high-profile progressive figures such as Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Senator Bernie Sanders.