Two potential 2028 Democratic presidential primary candidates, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear and California Rep. Ro Khanna, are set to headline a national gathering of Democratic mayors in Cleveland in July. They will be joined by Democratic Mayoral Association President and Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb, DNC Chair Ken Martin, former Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown, and current Ohio Rep. Shontel Brown. The details of the event were shared exclusively with POLITICO.
The theme of the summit, titled “Community Over Chaos: A Path Forward,” aims to showcase the work being done by mayors to hold President Donald Trump accountable, deliver results, and demonstrate that government can work for the people.
Mayor Bibb expressed his excitement about hosting the event in his hometown, saying, “This year’s summit will be a showcase of our cities and how government at the local level still works for the people. Despite chaos in Washington, mayors continue to find solutions and deliver results each day. I can’t wait for everyone to see what Democratic mayors — and Cleveland — are all about.”
The event marks a shift in strategy for the Democratic Mayoral Association, with a more aggressive and vocal role being planned. It will also be the first year that the national summit will be open to the public and press.
However, Democratic mayors, especially those in big cities, have faced challenges under the Trump administration. They have been targeted and criticized by the former President.
Both Beshear and Khanna have been making early moves indicating a potential presidential run. Beshear has hired a former spokesperson for Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign and started a podcast, while Khanna has been actively engaging in media appearances and party events.
Ohio, a state that was once a swing state, has shifted further away from Democrats in recent years. Sherrod Brown, a long-time Senator with ties to working-class voters, lost his seat in the last election cycle, and Trump won the state by 11 percentage points.
