A cardinal rule of American politics: It’s never too early to start thinking about the next election.

Some Democrats are already making moves that have stoked 2028 speculation, from California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s podcasts to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s (N.Y.) recent series of rallies alongside Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.).

Right now, the field is wide open as there is no obvious front-runner. Former Vice President Kamala Harris has kept a relatively low profile since her loss to President Trump last November, and, even if she ran, she’d face serious opposition.

It’s almost three years before the first primaries will be held, but here are The Hill’s initial rankings of the 2028 Democratic contenders.

1. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (N.Y.)

Ocasio-Cortez is simply the most exciting figure in Democratic politics.

Yes, she has a legion of detractors. But she also has charisma, authenticity and the ability to draw huge crowds to see her speak.

The "Fighting Oligarchy" tour with Sanders has felt like a passing of the torch. The 35-year-old AOC, as she is almost universally known, seems the obvious inheritor of Sanders’s mantle as the de facto leader of the left. Sanders, now 83, will surely never be a national candidate again.

There is no one else in the left-wing "lane" who could come close to competing with Ocasio-Cortez in a primary. That’s a real advantage in a race that could have a plethora of center-left candidates splitting the more moderate vote.

There are plenty of reasons for some Democrats to balk at the thought of Ocasio-Cortez as the party’s nominee.

Her youth itself could be a problem for some voters. Her haters loathe her just as passionately as her fans love her. And, perhaps most importantly of all, would a left-wing Latina from New York City really be the best option for a party that needs to win states like Michigan and Pennsylvania to take back the White House?

Still, Ocasio-Cortez’s deftness as a politician is sometimes overlooked. She is the leading Democrat of the social media age and a fundraising powerhouse.

The latest figures show she raised more than $9 million in the first quarter — an astronomical sum for a House member in a safe seat.

For now, she’d be the person to beat in a primary.

2. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro has been in the news for rather grim reasons over the past week, after an arsonist struck the governor’s mansion in Harrisburg, Pa.

The suspect may suffer from mental illness but also allegedly cited the conflict in Gaza as a motivation in the attack. Shapiro, who is Jewish, has been among the most pro-Israel leading figures in the Democratic Party.

In any event, Shapiro is also among the most likely........

© The Hill