
Ready or not, here comes the 2028 presidential campaign
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But her presence there pointed to a larger, albeit quiet truth: the 2028 campaign has essentially begun.
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Senator Amy Klobuchar, a Minnesota Democrat, visited Badger, a skin care product company in Gilsum, N.H., with Representative Chris Pappas, a New Hampshire Democrat running for senator, on July 11.
Holly Ramer/Associated Press
Last Tuesday, California Governor Gavin Newsom launched a
Meanwhile, Vice President JD Vance was across the country in San Diego, making the rounds
The following day, Arizona Senator Ruben Gallego announced
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That same afternoon Klobuchar was in Keene, it was announced that Illinois Governor JB Pritzker would headline the North Carolina Democratic Party's annual dinner, another move in a key swing state. He already spoke at a similar event in New Hampshire earlier this year.
Six months into Donald Trump's second term, he's enjoying a high point. He just signed a sweeping tax cut into law ahead of his self-imposed July 4 deadline. He's pressured NATO countries to boost defense spending. And he's continuing to rack up wins in court, like Monday's ruling from the Supreme Court that he could
But beneath the surface, a campaign to replace him is already taking shape. The 2028 election could feature the largest field of candidates in American history. That's why hopefuls are already trekking to early primary states and cozying up to donors, they know that in a crowded race, early attention is critical.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear has also begun to make moves toward a more national profile. He'll travel to South Carolina to speak at an AFL-CIO conference in Greenville, then to a Democratic event along the coast. Asked on NBC's Meet the Press whether he's considering a run, Beshear said: 'We'll see... I will not leave a broken country to my kids or to anyone else's.'
Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin greeted people during the grand opening ceremony of the first Buc-ee's location on the East Coast on June 30 in Mount Crawford, Va.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty
As for the Republicans, Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin will be in Iowa this week and in South Carolina next month to both headline events for local Republican parties. Texas Republican Representative Wesley Hunt, and former US secretary of state Mike Pompeo visited New Hampshire in June. Kentucky Senator Rand Paul was also supposed to appear in the state in late June, but the event was postponed due to Senate votes.
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Not wanting to be overshadowed by other states, a group of New Hampshire Democrats announced Monday they're launching a town hall series featuring potential 2028 contenders. The effort, backed by longtime Democratic figures Jim Demers (an early backer of Barack Obama) and Billy Shaheen (Senator Shaheen's husband), will kick off next month with Representative Ro Khanna of California in Manchester.
Of course, all of this is unfolding more than a year before the 2026 midterms, which can be a vehicle for potential presidential candidates to curry favor. Democrats haven't even filled out slates for major gubernatorial or congressional contests across the country.
Still, none of that is slowing the race ahead.
James Pindell is a Globe political reporter who reports and analyzes American politics, especially in New England.
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USA Today
12 minutes ago
- USA Today
Coffee prices are already high. Trump's tariffs on Brazil could raise them.
President Donald Trump has threatened a 50% tariff against Brazil, a major producer of green coffee beans. That could lead to higher coffee prices. The best part of waking up? If you're pinching pennies, it may no longer be a fresh cup of coffee. Trump on July 9 threatened a 50% tariff against Brazil, one of the U.S.'s largest suppliers of green coffee beans, starting Aug. 1. That could spell trouble for coffee drinkers, who have already seen price hikes in recent years related to supply chain constraints. "Americans are going to feel the impact of the tariffs in their morning brew. That's a very significant tax on the leading producer of coffee,' said food economist and Michigan State University professor David Ortega, adding that consumers would likely notice higher prices within months of the new tariffs going into effect. Why are coffee prices high right now? Tariffs threaten to add more pressure to an industry already navigating a recent price surge fueled by droughts in countries like Brazil and Vietnam. As of June, the average price of a pound of ground roast coffee cost $8.13, up from $6.25 the year prior and $4.52 in 2020, per the Bureau of Labor Statistics. 'Inventories were down, but demand is as high as ever,' said Ron Kurnik, owner of Superior Coffee Roasting, a roastery in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. Kurnik, 49, said a pallet of imported green coffee beans that would have cost him roughly $6,000 a year ago runs closer to $9,000 today. He said he's also facing higher packaging costs, since most of his packaging is shipped in from China, due to tariffs. That's translated to higher prices for his customers. As of June 1, a 12-ounce bag of Superior Coffee Roasting coffee costs $13.99, up from $11.99. Kurnik warned the nearly 17% increase may be just the first in a series of pricing changes, especially if Trump's tariffs on Brazil hold. 'About one-third of our purchasing goes to coffee from Brazil. It's definitely one of our staples,' he told USA TODAY. His roastery is far from the only business that leans heavily on imports from Brazil. About 80% of U.S. unroasted coffee imports were sourced from Latin America in 2023, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, with Brazil making up roughly 35% of those imports. To keep costs low, Kurnik is looking into sourcing more coffee from alternative countries like El Salvador and Colombia. He said buying from local producers isn't an option; while Hawaii and Puerto Rico grow coffee, the quantities are too low and prices too high to completely replace imports. 'It's just going to be a really bumpy ride trying to navigate where we're buying, how much we're going to be buying," Kurnik said. But 'I'm still optimistic. If you're not, you shouldn't be owning a business.' The impacts of higher coffee prices would be far-reaching in the U.S. The National Coffee Association estimates two-thirds of American adults drink coffee each day, with consumers spending nearly $110 billion on the drink each year. Price hikes are expected to be most noticeable in grocery stores, with coffee shops seeing less of an impact. Large coffeehouse chains tend to lock in long-term contracts with a diverse array of suppliers, and the final price of a store-bought latte is influenced by far more than just the price of coffee beans. "There's a lot more value-added that you're paying for at a coffee shop," Ortega said. "So it really depends on the type of coffee you're buying, where it's coming from." Still, some coffeehouses' prices are going up. Kurnik said his coffee shop, Superior Cafe, hiked prices on coffee-based drinks anywhere from 25 cents to 50 cents in June. Trump wants more factory jobs in the US. But is there anyone to hire? Other morning staples are getting more expensive Other breakfast staples are also susceptible to higher prices in the months to come. Orange juice prices could be pressed higher if tariff threats hold, as Brazil is a top supplier to the U.S. Plus, high demand and curbed production from record-high temperatures in Japan are driving up prices for matcha, another staple at coffee shops, according to Reuters. Ortega said other caffeinated drinks, such as energy drinks or soda, could see a boost from higher coffee prices on the margin, but 'there's really no easy substitute for a morning cup of coffee for most people.' 'When it comes to our coffee culture, coffee is the predominant source of caffeine we get in the morning in the U.S.,' he said. This year's coffee prices will ultimately depend on whether tariffs hold. In June, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins told the Wall Street Journal the Trump administration may consider exceptions for produce that can't easily be grown within the U.S., including coffee.


USA Today
12 minutes ago
- USA Today
Mamdani to DC: NYC mayor frontrunner meets with top Democrats
The frontrunner for New York City mayor talked campaign strategy and lessons from is primary upset. But not everybody's on board with his campaign. WASHINGTON − New York City's mayoral frontrunner and Democratic disruptor Zohran Mamdani hopped south July 16 to the nation's capital, as he looks to shore up the support of some wary party bigwigs. Mamdani, a 33-year-old state lawmaker, declared victory in the New York Democratic primary in June, beating out well-known former Gov. Andrew Cuomo (who has since announced plans to run as an independent candidate). His win was a stunning upset that reverberated beyond New York's five boroughs, with many openly questioning whether the success of a self-described democratic socialist spelled a left-leaning movement in the national party. Nowhere are people more obsessed with the political eight-ball than Washington, D.C., where Mamdani was enjoying breakfast and kudos from congressional Democrats. Mamdani "got an energetic and welcoming reception in DC this morning," Rep. Robert Garcia, D-California, wrote in a post July 16. "Proud of our Democratic nominee for NYC Mayor. Let's win!" The meal was organized by fellow New Yorker and progressive, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who gave Mamdani her endorsement in the primary race. Lawmakers spent the roughly two-hour meeting at a D.C. restaurant talking campaign strategy and takeaways from Mamdani's success, Politico reported. Not everyone is cheering for the left-wing Cinderella story, though. "Socialist Zohran Mamdani is too extreme to lead New York City," Rep. Laura Gillen, D-New York, said in a statement at the time of his win. Democratic leaders Sen. Chuck Schumer and Rep. Hakeem Jeffries − both New Yorkers − have also yet to endorse Mamdani. Politico reported Jeffries is waiting to meet with the nominee before extending official support.


The Hill
12 minutes ago
- The Hill
Trump bashes ‘foolish Republicans' for getting ‘duped' on Epstein
President Trump on Wednesday bashed 'foolish Republicans' who he said were aiding Democrats by focusing on documents related to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. Trump during an Oval Office meeting with the crown prince of Bahrain repeated his claim that the documents connected to Epstein were a 'hoax' started by Democrats. Epstein was arrested on sex trafficking charges and died by suicide in 2019, during Trump's first term. 'Some stupid Republicans and foolish Republicans fall into the net, and so they try and do the Democrats' work,' Trump said. 'I call it the Epstein hoax. Takes a lot of time and effort. Instead of talking about the great achievements we've had…they're wasting their time with a guy who obviously had some very serious problems who died three, four years ago. I'd rather talk about the success we have with the economy,' Trump added. Prominent Republicans and Trump supporters, including Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), have in recent days called for greater transparency from the administration around files related to Epstein's case. Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) called for a special counsel to review the administration's handling of the Epstein files. Trump supporters, including some now serving in his administration, have for years espoused conspiracy theories around Epstein's death and suggested the government was covering up information that connected prominent Democrats to the disgraced financier. But Trump has in recent days appeared exasperated by the fixation on Epstein. He has said Attorney General Pam Bondi can release 'credible' evidence related to Epstein, but has otherwise questioned why some of his followers are so fixated on the issue. 'Certain Republicans got duped by the Democrats and they're following a Democrat playbook,' Trump said. 'We do have bigger problems,' he added. The Justice Department and FBI issued a joint memo last week that stated Epstein did not have a client list and confirmed he died by suicide in his New York City jail cell in 2019. The findings incensed members of the MAGA movement, who have for years pushed conspiracy theories about Epstein's death and claims that prominent Democrats would be named on a client list. Epstein, accused in several cases of sex trafficking young girls, ran in high-powered circles with figures that included Trump, former President Clinton, Britain's Prince Andrew and a number of other celebrities and ultrawealthy individuals. Epstein's associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, has been convicted of sex trafficking.