Cory Booker heads to Utah for high-stakes fundraiser ahead of 2028 presidential run

New Jersey Senator Cory Booker is scheduled to pitch to Utah donors in Park City, employing the “Booker Victory Fund,” a joint committee formed when he halted his 2020 presidential bid. With $23 million in cash for his Senate seat, he ranks alongside Ro Khanna and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, each holding about $16 million. Larry Sabato interprets the western outreach as a clear sign that Booker is preparing for a second-attempt run in the 2028 Democratic primary, noting that candidates typically pull out all the stops in a second try.

Political observers count at least 38 Democrats already testing the waters, suggesting a crowded field that could shift the party’s ideological balance. Commentators argue that courting red-state voters, such as those in Utah, will be essential for any Democratic nominee aiming to counter a potential Trump-aligned Republican opponent.