On the Record: Tracking the 2028 Presidential Primary
From: Alidade
Re: On the Record: Tracking the 2028 Presidential Primary
On the Record: Tracking the 2028 Presidential Primary
Feb 16 - Feb 23, 20266 organizations439 posts tracked
A weekly analysis of social media posts from the personal accounts of possible 2028 Democratic presidential candidates generated by Alidade AI. Interested in a custom version of this newsletter focused on your industry or priorities? Reach out to team@alidade-ai.com.
Key Takeaways
- 1Democratic presidential hopefuls universally weaponized the Supreme Court tariff ruling, but their divergent tones—from Beshear's faith-based unity to Pritzker's combative mockery—reveal distinct primary lane strategies already taking shape.
- 2Rep. Ro Khanna emerged as the most policy-aggressive candidate, simultaneously forcing a bipartisan Iran war powers vote, pushing AI worker protections, and calling for ICE abolition across multiple fronts.
- 3Early-state campaign infrastructure is accelerating fast, with Buttigieg in New Hampshire, Harris touring the Midwest, Emanuel in Michigan, and Shapiro launching his reelection as a national brand-building vehicle.
Detailed Coverage
1
Supreme Court Tariff Ruling Unites Democratic Field in Attack
Multiple OrganizationsPolicy
Why It Matters
2
Democratic Leaders Escalate Anti-ICE Rhetoric from Opposition to Abolition
Multiple OrganizationsPolicy
Why It Matters
3
Khanna Forces Congressional Vote on Iran War Powers Resolution
Ro KhannaPolicy
Why It Matters
4
Beshear and Newsom Launch Books with Contrasting Campaign Strategies
Andy Beshear & Gavin NewsomMarketing & Outreach
Why It Matters
5
Buttigieg, Harris, and Emanuel Hit Early-State Campaign Trail
Pete Buttigieg & Kamala Harris & Rahm EmanuelMarketing & Outreach
Why It Matters
6
Shapiro Launches Reelection Campaign With Trump Attacks and Pennsylvania Record
Josh ShapiroPolicy, Marketing & Outreach
Why It Matters
7
Khanna, Kelly, Murphy Stake Out Competing Tech Visions
Ro Khanna & Mark Kelly & Chris MurphyPolicy
Why It Matters
Week at a Glance
| Organization | Activity | Key Topics | This Week |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pete Buttigieg | medium | Tariff oppositionEarly-state campaigning | Buttigieg hit the New Hampshire campaign trail while attacking Trump's tariffs as costing families $1,000. |
| Andy Beshear | high | Book launchTariff oppositionFaith-based messaging | Beshear announced his book "Go and Do Likewise" while framing presidential authority as central to the tariff fight. |
| Gavin Newsom | medium | Book tourAnti-Trump rhetoric | Newsom promoted his book on a multi-city tour with combative anti-Trump messaging calling the president "a jackass." |
| Gretchen Whitmer | low | General Democratic positioning | Whitmer had minimal public activity with only four posts analyzed this period. |
| JB Pritzker | high | ICE abolitionTariff oppositionAnti-authoritarianism | Pritzker deployed the most aggressive rhetoric on both tariffs and ICE, framing Trump's tactics as authoritarian. |
| Kamala Harris | low | Midwest campaign tourSwing-state outreach | Harris announced a four-city Midwest tour with media figures targeting key swing states. |
| Rahm Emanuel | medium | Veterans policyMichigan outreach | Emanuel pitched a $10,000 signing bonus for veterans entering building trades during Michigan visits. |
| Wes Moore | medium | General Democratic positioning | Moore maintained a steady posting cadence but did not feature prominently in major policy battles this period. |
| Mark Kelly | high | Tariff oppositionAI regulationArizona constituents | Kelly tied the tariff ruling to Arizona families while staking out a moderate position on AI governance. |
| Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez | low | General Democratic positioning | Ocasio-Cortez had limited visibility in major policy debates this period. |
| Ro Khanna | high | Iran war powersICE abolitionAI and workers | Khanna forced a congressional vote on Iran war powers while pushing AI worker protections and ICE abolition. |
| Chris Murphy | medium | ICE oppositionTech regulationTariff opposition | Murphy warned Big Tech is buying elections while vowing to defund "lawless ICE" operations. |
| Josh Shapiro | high | Reelection launchTariff oppositionPennsylvania economic record | Shapiro launched his reelection campaign while contrasting Pennsylvania tax relief with Trump's tariff policies. |
| Cory Booker | high | ICE oppositionSurveillance technologyDetention facilities | Booker fought an ICE detention facility deal while warning about surveillance tech deployed in American neighborhoods. |
Tracking 6 organizations • Generated by Alidade AIFeb 23, 2026 at 1:04 PM
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