2028 Democratic presidential nominee
$124.5M
NOV 7, 2028Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleGovernor
PartyDemocratic
Political ideologyLiberal Democrat
Age51 years old (May 12, 1975)
GenderMale
Show moreShow less
LocationColorado
BackgroundPolitician
EducationPrinceton University (B.A., 1996)
Notable personal detailsJared Schutz Polis is an American politician, entrepreneur, and philanthropist who has served as the 43rd governor of Colorado since 2019. He previously represented Colorado’s 2nd congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2009 to 2019 and served on the Colorado State Board of Education from 2001 to 2007. Polis earned a B.A. from Princeton University in 1996 and has been involved in education-related ventures and public policy.
SourcesShowHide
Positions
Economy & Taxes
Jared Polis has supported lowering Colorado’s income, sales and property tax burdens while also expanding targeted tax credits (earned income and child tax credits) and eliminating some tax burdens on seniors and small businesses. As governor he signed legislation cutting the state income and sales tax rates and backed measures to reduce property taxes and expand tax credits. He has also criticized tariffs and advocated for policies to reduce costs for consumers and businesses.
Healthcare
Jared Polis has publicly supported Medicare-for-All and cosponsored federal Medicare-for-All legislation as a member of Congress; as Colorado governor he has also defended Medicaid expansion and pursued state-level measures to expand access and mental-health parity. His policy record includes both advocacy for a national single-payer-style approach and implementation-focused actions to protect and expand public coverage at the state level.
Show moreShow less
Immigration & Border
Supports protections for DACA recipients, refugee resettlement, and expanded pathways to citizenship while also endorsing stronger border security and cooperation with federal authorities to detain and deport individuals convicted of violent crimes. Has promoted state-level programs to integrate immigrants and backed limits on state cooperation with federal civil immigration enforcement. Overall emphasizes humanitarian pathways and integration alongside acceptance of targeted enforcement for criminal actors.
Abortion & Reproductive Rights
The candidate supports codifying and protecting abortion and reproductive health care access in Colorado, opposes government interference in individuals’ reproductive decisions, and has taken executive and legislative actions to expand and shield access to abortion and related services.
Climate & Energy
Supports aggressive climate action including economy-wide greenhouse gas reductions (50% by 2030 from 2005 levels), a roadmap to 100% renewable energy by 2040, state-level carbon management strategies, and executive actions to electrify fleets and cut state emissions. Policies include near-term GHG targets, plans to phase out coal generation, and large investments in clean energy and emissions-reduction programs.
Public Safety & Guns
Supports expanded background checks, stronger extreme risk (red flag) laws, and restrictions on ghost/ghost‑gun possession while emphasizing responsible gun ownership and opposing broad bans on types of firearms. Has signed state laws that add waiting periods, raise minimum purchase age, tighten rules on ghost guns, and enacted semiautomatic purchase safety requirements paired with training. Focuses on gun-safety education and targeted regulations rather than an outright assault‑weapons ban at the state level.
News
Jared Polis is in the news because Denver has been named a finalist to host the 2028 Democratic National Convention. The DNC also said it will not hold a midterm convention in 2026, focusing its resources on the presidential nominating convention instead. Separately, a Supreme Court case on post-Election Day ballot laws could affect voting rules in many states, including Colorado, though Polis is not directly tied to the case in the summaries.
Denver is a Finalist to Host 2028 Democratic National Convention
DNC announces frontrunner cities and date for 2028 convention, will not hold midterm convention
Democrats will spend millions to shift voter registration strategy
Inside Democrats’ Brewing Debate Over Which States Should Vote First in 2028
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- Polls
- Endorsements
- Fundraising