Democrats showed promise in 2025 as future party leaders

Like most parties that lose presidential races, the Democrats have struggled through a difficult aftermath.

- Carl P. Leubsdorf, Tribune News Service

Ro Khanna

But the handwringing over their lack of effective leadership failed to temper their strength at the polls. Exacerbating their difficulties has been the fact that neither of their two top congressional leaders - Sen. Chuck Schumer or Rep. Hakeem Jeffries - is an effective spokesperson. They got their jobs the old-fashioned way, as inside players. At the same time, some other Democrats showed promise this year as prospects to fill that leadership vacuum. Some will likely become serious 2028 presidential candidates.They include: Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly - The former naval aviator and astronaut was on Kamala Harris’ short list for vice president in 2024 but faced concerns he lacked charisma. But this year, he emerged as one of the Democrats’ leading spokespersons on national security issues, especially on the Trump administration’s bombing of alleged narco-terrorists in the Caribbean.

From his perch on the Senate Armed Services Committee, he would be a major player in any subsequent probe of whether the administration's attacks constituted war crimes. A political moderate from a growing swing state, he could help reorient the party towards the center. But how he would fare in the rough-and-tumble of daily presidential campaigning is anybody's guess.