Kamala Harris draws the most buzz at Dems’ first 2028 cattle call

A bevy of 2028 hopefuls went to kiss Al Sharpton’s ring and woo Black voters. Kamala Harris got the warmest reception from the crowd.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 10: The Reverend Al Sharpton sits for a ‘fireside chat’ with former Vice President Kamala Harris (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) | Getty Images

NEW YORK – It wasn’t Iowa, New Hampshire or South Carolina, but a cavernous ballroom in Midtown Manhattan that marked Democrats’ first stop on the road to the White House.

The Rev. Al Sharpton’s National Action Network Convention — an annual gathering of Black civil leaders, activists and voters in New York — served as the first major informal audition for potential 2028 Democratic presidential candidates to pitch themselves before one of the party’s most powerful constituencies.

Former Vice President Kamala Harris packed the hall to capacity and was met with multiple standing ovations and chants encouraging her to “run again.” Maryland Gov. Wes Moore brought his audience to their feet. And New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker closed out the convention’s candidate appearances with a fiery speech that crescendoed into sustained applause from the crowd.

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