Denver will host a high‑profile gathering of Democratic officials and strategists next week. The three‑day “What’s Next” conference runs Thursday through Saturday, Nov. 12‑14, at Mission Ballroom and other local venues.
Why Denver?
Organizers selected the Colorado capital because of the state’s dramatic political shift over the past two decades. The conference website notes that Colorado moved from “reliably red to purple to blue — not by accident, but by investing in people and institutions, building a coalition and then delivering.”
Who’s attending?
The guest list reads like a who’s‑who of potential 2028 Democratic contenders. Names include former Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, Senators Cory Booker, Raphael Warnock, and Elissa Slotkin, Representative Ro Khanna, Senator Ruben Gallego, Governor Abigail Spanberger, and Governor Mikie Sherrill. Analysts and media figures such as David Axelrod, Matt Yglesias, and former Attorney General Eric Holder are also slated to appear.
Program highlights
Sessions will focus on winning campaign strategies and shaping a platform for the 2028 election cycle. A panel of mayors from Democratic‑leaning cities will discuss lessons for the national party, while another panel will examine the preferences of Gen‑Z voters.
Denver’s ambitions
Mayor Mike Johnston sees the event as an opportunity to showcase Denver as a potential host for the 2028 Democratic National Convention. Denver is currently one of three finalist cities under consideration for the nominating convention. In a written release, Johnston said the nation’s recent “message of being sick of the status quo” resonates strongly in Denver, citing the city’s progress on crime reduction and homelessness.
Independent framing
The conference is billed as an “independent, outsider conversation” organized by a group called Majority Democrats, led by Representative Jake Auchincloss. The organizers position themselves against what they describe as a “gerontocratic establishment” and an “activist left.”
Party dynamics
One of the central questions the event hopes to address is how the disparate wings of the Democratic Party can unite to win elections. The website asks, “How can the disparate wings of the Democratic Party come together to win elections?”
Progressive and Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) candidates have seen recent victories nationwide. In Colorado, the party’s delegation welcomed newcomer Melat Kiros, a DSA affiliate, who will replace longtime incumbent Representative Diana DeGette. State party chair Shad Murib praised the party’s diversity, saying the ability to nominate both former Governor John Hickenlooper and newcomer Kiros demonstrates a “healthy, diverse, and inclusive organization ready to win and deliver results for working people.”
Looking ahead
As the Democratic Party prepares for the 2028 election cycle, the conference will serve as a forum for debating policy priorities, campaign techniques, and the role of progressive ideas within the broader party platform. The event’s outcomes could shape the party’s national strategy and influence which candidates emerge as frontrunners in the coming years.
Original reporting: Denverite — read the source article.
