The 2028 U.S. presidential contest is already taking shape, with three Democratic prospects—California Governor Gavin Newsom, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear and California Representative Ro Khanna—set to campaign in South Carolina over a 10-day stretch this month. Their visits come two-and-a-half years before the first primary ballots are cast, underscoring an unusually early start to the nominating race. South Carolina’s influential Democratic power broker, Representative Jim Clyburn, has recently met with Newsom, Beshear and Khanna, while confirming separate talks with former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, who is also sounding out a possible bid. Other would-be contenders including Maryland Governor Wes Moore, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker have already appeared in South Carolina, New Hampshire or Iowa, states that traditionally open the primary calendar. Party strategists attribute the accelerated timetable to a leadership vacuum created by Democrats’ 2024 loss of the White House and both chambers of Congress. With no incumbent Republican on the ballot—Donald Trump is constitutionally limited to two terms—and with 2024 nominee Kamala Harris and running mate Tim Walz undecided about running again, the Democratic field is effectively wide open. Operatives tracking the race say as many as 30 high-profile Democrats could ultimately enter the 2028 primary, surpassing the party’s crowded 2020 lineup. For now, prospective candidates are testing messages on union members, Black voters and moderates in early-voting states as they build fundraising networks and seek name recognition long before formal campaign declarations are expected.