Shapiro, Pritzker, Buttigieg and Beshear place different bets on the midterms

No Democrat has formally entered the 2028 White House race. But several possible candidates have spent this fall in very different ways, and Tuesday's results will test those choices. Here is where some of them put their time and money, according to reports published in the past several weeks.

Shapiro stays close to home

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro is seeking reelection. The Associated Press (AP) reported he is expected to beat Republican Stacy Garrity, which frees him to spend political capital elsewhere ³. He is pushing Democrats to win both chambers of the state legislature and flip four congressional seats ³.

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Newsweek reported that he has spent more time in his own state than campaigning for other Democrats ¹. AP reported he has made no early-state visits and has not campaigned with midterm candidates outside Pennsylvania ³. The Washington Post reported he has said he wants to be "part of that debate" about the party's future ².

Pritzker and Beshear spend and travel

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker is seeking a third term. AP reported he has donated $38 million to midterm efforts, including about $20 million through his Ready for the Fight PAC ³. A PAC is a political action committee, a group that raises and spends money on campaigns. He has attended more than 75 events nationwide, AP said ³.

From Channel GOPShapiro calls Vance 'pathetically weak' over Ramaswamy adJosh Shapiro · 1 plays · captioned, with the source named

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear chairs the Democratic Governors Association. AP reported he has done more than any other prospect to raise his profile this cycle ³. Under pressure from other Democrats, the association sent $1 million to Gina Hinojosa's Texas governor campaign, AP said ³.

Buttigieg, Newsom and Ocasio-Cortez hit the trail

Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has endorsed nearly 100 candidates and has visited 37 states since leaving office, AP reported ³. Newsweek reported he was in Atlanta to help Sen. Jon Ossoff's reelection campaign ¹.

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California Gov. Gavin Newsom backed Proposition 50, a redistricting measure that AP said may let Democrats gain up to five U.S. House seats in California ³. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York is backing Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan's Senate race. "If Abdul can win in Michigan, anybody can win anywhere," she said, according to AP ³.

If Abdul can win in Michigan, anybody can win anywhere.

What happens next

Several of these Democrats have said they will wait until after the midterms to decide. The Washington Post reported Newsom is waiting until after the midterms to make a decision ². Sen. Ossoff, who is on the ballot in Georgia, has been blunt about his own plans ¹.

I have zero interest in running for president in 2028.

That matters because a governor's or senator's home-state margin, and the House seats and Senate races they helped win, will be the first evidence they can offer donors and primary voters. The pattern is a split between candidates who built national networks and those who guarded their home turf.

The Record

1. Sep 23, 2026The Washington Post reported that Shapiro had focused on four competitive Pennsylvania House races and that Newsom is waiting until after the midterms to make a decision ².
2. Oct 9, 2026AP reported Pritzker had donated $38 million to midterm efforts and Buttigieg had endorsed nearly 100 candidates ³.
3. Oct 23, 2026Newsweek reported Buttigieg was in Atlanta to support Sen. Jon Ossoff's reelection ¹.

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<h2>Shapiro, Pritzker, Buttigieg and Beshear place different bets on the midterms</h2> <p><em>By The GOP Files Campaign Desk. This article first appeared on <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/story/shapiro-pritzker-buttigieg-and-beshear-place-different-bets-on-the-midterms">The GOP Files</a> on Monday, November 2, 2026.</em></p> <p>No Democrat has formally entered the 2028 White House race. But several possible candidates have spent this fall in very different ways, and Tuesday&#39;s results will test those choices. Here is where some of them put their time and money, according to reports published in the past several weeks.</p> <h2>Shapiro stays close to home</h2> <p>Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro is seeking reelection. The Associated Press (AP) reported he is expected to beat Republican Stacy Garrity, which frees him to spend political capital elsewhere . He is pushing Democrats to win both chambers of the state legislature and flip four congressional seats .</p> <p>Newsweek reported that he has spent more time in his own state than campaigning for other Democrats . AP reported he has made no early-state visits and has not campaigned with midterm candidates outside Pennsylvania . The Washington Post reported he has said he wants to be &quot;part of that debate&quot; about the party&#39;s future .</p> <h2>Pritzker and Beshear spend and travel</h2> <p>Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker is seeking a third term. AP reported he has donated $38 million to midterm efforts, including about $20 million through his Ready for the Fight PAC . A PAC is a political action committee, a group that raises and spends money on campaigns. He has attended more than 75 events nationwide, AP said .</p> <p>Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear chairs the Democratic Governors Association. AP reported he has done more than any other prospect to raise his profile this cycle . Under pressure from other Democrats, the association sent $1 million to Gina Hinojosa&#39;s Texas governor campaign, AP said .</p> <h2>Buttigieg, Newsom and Ocasio-Cortez hit the trail</h2> <p>Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has endorsed nearly 100 candidates and has visited 37 states since leaving office, AP reported . Newsweek reported he was in Atlanta to help Sen. Jon Ossoff&#39;s reelection campaign .</p> <p>California Gov. Gavin Newsom backed Proposition 50, a redistricting measure that AP said may let Democrats gain up to five U.S. House seats in California . Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York is backing Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan&#39;s Senate race. &quot;If Abdul can win in Michigan, anybody can win anywhere,&quot; she said, according to AP .</p> <blockquote><p>If Abdul can win in Michigan, anybody can win anywhere.</p><p>&mdash; Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, U.S. Representative, Democrat-New York</p></blockquote> <h2>What happens next</h2> <p>Several of these Democrats have said they will wait until after the midterms to decide. The Washington Post reported Newsom is waiting until after the midterms to make a decision . Sen. Ossoff, who is on the ballot in Georgia, has been blunt about his own plans .</p> <blockquote><p>I have zero interest in running for president in 2028.</p><p>&mdash; Jon Ossoff, U.S. Senator, Democrat-Georgia</p></blockquote> <p>That matters because a governor&#39;s or senator&#39;s home-state margin, and the House seats and Senate races they helped win, will be the first evidence they can offer donors and primary voters. The pattern is a split between candidates who built national networks and those who guarded their home turf.</p> <p><em>Read the original, with every source linked, at <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/story/shapiro-pritzker-buttigieg-and-beshear-place-different-bets-on-the-midterms">thegopfiles.com</a>. Republished under The GOP Files' <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/republish">free republishing terms</a>.</em></p> <img src="https://thegopfiles.com/api/rp/shapiro-pritzker-buttigieg-and-beshear-place-different-bets-on-the-midterms.gif" alt="" width="1" height="1" style="border:0;width:1px;height:1px">

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Sources

1. Newsweek, “Map shows where top 2028 Democrats are campaigning ahead of midterms” (2026-10-23). newsweek.com/map-shows-where-top-2028-democrats-are-campaign
2. The Washington Post via Anchorage Daily News, “Democrats are already making moves to run for president. Here's who's doing what” (2026-09-23). adn.com/nation-world/2026/09/23/democrats-are-already-making
3. AP via La Nación, “The midterms stakes are high for these 2028 presidential prospects” (2026-10-09). lanacion.com.ar/usa/the-midterms-stakes-are-high-for-these-2

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