<div class="css-s99gbd StoryBodyCompanionColumn" data-testid="companionColumn-0"><div class="css-53u6y8"><p class="css-at9mc1 evys1bk0">Pete Buttigieg, the former transportation secretary, <a class="css-yywogo" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/13/us/politics/buttigieg-michigan-senate-2028-president.html" title="">ruled out a run for statewide office</a> in Michigan in 2026 and made it clear that he was keeping his 2028 options open.</p><p class="css-at9mc1 evys1bk0">Gov. JB Pritzker of Illinois is headed to New Hampshire next month, visiting a traditional battleground in the presidential primary campaign years before any campaign is underway.</p><p class="css-at9mc1 evys1bk0">And even if Iowa <a class="css-yywogo" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/04/us/politics/democrats-vote-primary-calendar.html" title="">isn’t still </a><a class="css-yywogo" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/04/us/politics/democrats-vote-primary-calendar.html" title=""><em class="css-2fg4z9 e1gzwzxm0">Iowa</em></a>,<em class="css-2fg4z9 e1gzwzxm0"> </em>Gov<em class="css-2fg4z9 e1gzwzxm0">. </em>Tim Walz of Minnesota <a class="css-yywogo" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/14/us/tim-walz-politics.html" title="">found himself on Friday</a> in the state that once kicked off the presidential nominating contest, addressing a group of frustrated and furious Democrats. As the Trump administration marches ahead with an aggressive agenda and Democrats <a class="css-yywogo" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/14/us/politics/government-shutdown-spending-bill-schumer-democrats.html" title="">grow angry with their leaders</a> in Congress, some of the party’s most ambitious politicians are quietly, and perhaps almost wistfully, looking ahead.</p><p class="css-at9mc1 evys1bk0">One thousand, three hundred and thirty-four days ahead, to be exact.</p><p class="css-at9mc1 evys1bk0">Quiet conversations about the next race for the White House are already underway among Democratic strategists, activists and, yes, a stable of would-be, could-be candidates. None would dare announce any such aspiration aloud. Many have yet to decide, even privately, whether they will take steps toward a bid.</p></div><aside aria-label="companion column" class="css-ew4tgv"></aside></div><div data-testid="Dropzone-1"></div><div class="css-s99gbd StoryBodyCompanionColumn" data-testid="companionColumn-1"><div class="css-53u6y8"><p class="css-at9mc1 evys1bk0">But why let reality get in the way of a good shadow primary? Across the country, political operatives, donors and journalists are scrutinizing and overanalyzing these Democrats’ words, policy positions and travel schedules for any sign of presidential plotting. And these Democrats are sometimes — if not often — leaving breadcrumbs to lure such attention.</p><p class="css-at9mc1 evys1bk0">“Everything that Trump is doing is just so traumatic and so jarring to your soul,” said Raymond Buckley, the chairman of the New Hampshire Democratic Party. “It’s a good reminder that there’s a day after tomorrow. Thinking about ’28, it allows some people to survive the trauma better.”</p><div class="css-1336jj"><div class="css-121kum4"><div class="css-171quhb"></div><div class="css-asuuk5"><noscript><div class="css-7axq9l" data-testid="optimistic-truncator-noscript"><svg aria-hidden="true" class="css-1b5b8u1" height="24" viewbox="0 0 24 24" width="24"><path clip-rule="evenodd" d="M2.5 12a9.5 9.5 0 1 1 19 0 9.5 9.5 0 0 1-19 0Zm8.5 1.75v-7.5h2v7.5h-2Zm0 2v2h2v-2h-2Z" fill="currentColor" fill-rule="evenodd"></path></svg><div class="css-6yo1no" data-testid="optimistic-truncator-noscript-message"><p class="css-3kpklk">We are having trouble retrieving the article content.</p><p class="css-3kpklk">Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.</p></div></div></noscript><div class="css-1dv1kvn" id="optimistic-truncator-a11y" tabindex="-1"><hr/><p>Thank you for your patience while we verify access. 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