Democratic presidential prospects flock to New York to court activists
at Al Sharpton's conference
[April 09, 2026]
By MATT BROWN and STEVE PEOPLES
NEW YORK (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.
Up first was Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, who warned that “everyone
is less safe” because of President Donald Trump's leadership and blamed
him for a nationwide surge in antisemitism, Islamophobia, racism and
bigotry.
“There’s more chaos, there’s more cruelty in our world,” Shapiro said.
“Even if we disagree on health care policy or tax policy or whatever, we
should at least, at a baseline, have an honorable president of the
United States. We do not have that right now."
The Democratic governor, already considered a top-tier 2028 presidential
prospect with a clear path to reelection in his battleground state this
year, delivered a scathing criticism of the Republican president on the
opening day of the National Action Network's four-day conference. More
than a half-dozen potential candidates are speaking here to make inroads
among Black leaders, one of Democrats' most powerful voting blocs.
The presidential primary is already underway
The presidential primary season won't begin in earnest until after
November's midterm elections, but this week's conference is showcasing a
collection of Democrats already jockeying for position in what promises
to be a crowded primary fight.
For now, at least, there is no clear early favorite.
“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.
Black voters have critical influence
One doesn't have to look far to see the outsized influence that Black
voters wield in Democratic nomination contests.
In 2020, Buttigieg was a top vote-getter in the Iowa caucus and scored a
strong second place in New Hampshire — both overwhelmingly white states
— before Joe Biden dominated South Carolina on the strength of the Black
vote.
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Josh Shapiro, Governor of Pennsylvania, speaks during the National
Action Network (NAN) Convention in New York, Wednesday, April 8,
2026. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)
Biden's long-established relationship with the African American
community, backed by his perceived electability advantage,
ultimately helped him beat back a strong push by progressive
favorite Sen. Bernie Sanders.
All of the 2028 prospects are quick to criticize Trump, although
there is broad agreement that Democrats also need to highlight what
they stand for — instead of solely what they're against.
The White House did not respond to a request for comment about the
conference.
Khanna, a Sanders ally who also addressed activists on Wednesday,
told The Associated Press that progressive candidates in 2028 could
make greater inroads with Black voters “by speaking to the Civil
Rights tradition and offering a vision rooted in Black history.”
“A 2028 contender needs to articulate and run on a new moral vision
for America,” Khanna said. Any presidential candidate’s platform, he
added, “must be as much inspired by the greats of Douglass and King”
— referring to abolitionist Frederick Douglass and Civil Rights
leader Martin Luther King Jr. — while “offering a new vision for
racial justice, economic justice, peace in the world, against
militarism, against racism, against wealth inequality.”
Shapiro, who was a finalist in Harris' search for a running mate in
2024, highlighted both his electability and his commitment to
African American priorities while on stage.
He described Pennsylvania as “the ultimate swing state,” while
defending diversity, equity and inclusion programs and insisting
that police must be “held to account” if they do something wrong.
He also went after Trump again and again, suggesting that the
looming midterm elections should be “a national referendum on Donald
Trump and on what is happening in Washington, D.C.”
Ashley Sharpton, Rev. Sharpton’s youngest daughter, said she was
surprised by the audience's enthusiasm and engagement while Shapiro
and Khanna were on stage on the conference's first day. She said
she's looking forward to hearing from Moore, Harris and Buttigieg.
"That’s why people come," she said. "They want to get some of that
energy, that consistency, that base.”
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