Denver’s Mission Ballroom was packed Thursday afternoon as the Democratic Party convened its “What’s Next” conference, a gathering of national leaders, elected officials and analysts to chart the party’s direction after a strong midterm showing.
Local leaders front‑and‑center
Colorado’s own Denver Mayor Mike Johnston opened the event, praising Denver as a showcase for a rising Democratic movement and noting the city’s status as a finalist to host the 2028 Democratic National Convention. Rep. Joe Neguse and Gov.-elect Phil Weiser also addressed the crowd, emphasizing Colorado’s role in the party’s future.
Newly elected officials from across the country were on hand, including Texas Senator‑elect James Talarico, Iowa Senator‑elect Josh Turek and Iowa Governor‑elect Rob Sand. A slate of potential 2028 presidential candidates, such as Rep. Ro Khanna and former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, also appeared on the lineup.
Majority Democrats and the centrist push
The conference was organized by Majority Democrats, an independent committee and super PAC that describes itself as advocating for “a different kind of Democrat.” The group has drawn criticism from some progressives who view it as a well‑funded centrist operation. One of its stated goals is to counter what it calls the “activist left,” which it says focuses more on purity than on achieving results.
Despite that criticism, the agenda featured several progressive voices, including Rep. Sarah McBride and Rep. Ro Khanna. Representative‑elect Melat Kiros was invited but could not attend due to freshman orientation in Washington, D.C.
Protesters demand new leadership
Outside the venue, a group of protesters hung banners along Cook Street and I‑70, urging Democrats to move beyond the blue‑wave momentum and consider new leadership. They called for a change in Senate majority leadership, specifically opposing Sen. Chuck Schumer’s continued role.
Organizer Tiffany Weber said the demonstrators wanted to remind the conference attendees that “we are watching.” State Democratic Party chair Shad Murib warned that internal fighting could weaken the coalition, but he also noted that the party must address cost‑of‑living concerns and the ongoing foreign conflict in the Middle East.
Denver’s bid for the 2028 convention
Mayor Johnston highlighted the conference as a “rehearsal dinner” for the Democratic National Convention, hoping the event will boost Denver’s chances of winning the bid. The Denver Downtown Development Authority recently approved a $40 million guarantee to support a potential convention, with the city council slated to vote on the final funding on Nov. 23.
Johnston clarified that the money is a guarantee, not a direct tax‑payer expense, and that the city would raise the funds if selected.
Funding and donor transparency
The Majority Democrats super PAC, founded in July of last year, financed the conference. Federal Election Commission records show that Steve and Sue Mandel contributed over $10 million, accounting for nearly three‑quarters of the PAC’s total receipts through Oct. 14. Other donors include Michael Bloomberg and James Murdoch.
State party chair Murib called for greater transparency, saying Americans deserve to know who is “injecting so much money into our politics.” Protester Marie DesJardin warned that secret donors could create “puppet” legislators, urging a focus on empowering the working class.
Policy themes
Speakers discussed moving away from identity politics, emphasizing cost‑of‑living issues as the primary voter concern. Analyst Lakshya Jain argued that while ideology still matters, the gap between parties on economic issues has narrowed, and Democrats need to brand themselves around affordability rather than identity.
Murib echoed that sentiment, adding that the party’s next major challenge will be addressing the “endless foreign war in the Middle East.”
The conference underscored both the enthusiasm within the Democratic ranks and the internal debates about direction, leadership and funding as the party looks ahead to the 2028 election cycle.
Original reporting: Denverite — read the source article.
