When thinking about potential Democratic presidential nominees for 2028, my criteria is that they can win a primary and a general election and would seriously change the status quo for the better. Unfortunately, few leading candidates meet this standard. Most potential leaders aren’t going to push for sweeping positive change because they’re too beholden to the corporations and wealthy elites who run our politics. This is a trend among both Republicans and Democrats.
Of those who aren’t, each face their own issues. Sen. Bernie Sanders is too old. I don't believe Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and other "Squad" members have enough widespread likability. United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain doesn’t have the name recognition needed to overcome the obstacles of running as an outsider.
There is, however, one option who checks all the necessary boxes. He has the right principles and policies, understands the media environment, hasn’t been consumed by our corrupt political system, has impressive political and rhetorical skills and is broadly popular among leftists, liberals and independents.
That man is Jon Stewart. Yes, I’m serious. You might be skeptical — I also wish we didn’t have to rely on celebrities to run for political office — but hear me out.
Stewart has left-wing positions: he is for single-payer health care, is pro-Palestine and anti-war, etc., but liberals and centrists love him and he isn’t nearly as disliked by conservatives as other prominent Democrats because he’s willing to criticize the party. He has the same outsider appeal that attracted people to candidates like Sanders and President Donald Trump, and because he’s an outsider, he hasn’t been corrupted by money in politics.
He also has the name recognition and popularity to run a grassroots small-dollar campaign, which makes him more likely to not capitulate to powerful interest groups. There is simply no one else with the advantages that Stewart has.
Furthermore, I think a Jon Stewart campaign has the best chance to correct one of the most significant political migrations of the past decade — the rightward shift of Generation Z. There are a multitude of factors driving this, however, I think one of the main ones is that people recognize that our economy and government are fundamentally broken and they want radical change, even if it is for the worse.
For the past few years, Sanders has been the leading voice on the left calling attention to this, so it’s no surprise that his movement was highly popular with young people. Whoever carries his torch forward must also be viewed as authentic and as someone who would genuinely shake things up. If people feel like the Democrats are genuinely offering real substantive change, I think we will see the pendulum swing back.
Stewart also knows how to effectively use his platform in ways that reach younger generations. He has decades of media experience, he isn’t afraid to put politicians on blast — which he did when advocating for veterans and 9/11 first responders — and he is rhetorically talented. It’s not enough to run on good policies, you have to be able to get your message across to people. When Stewart speaks, the cameras follow him.
