Gov. Josh Shapiro's stock continues rising as speculation swirls that he could be Democrats' presidential candidate-in-waiting. But several roadblocks stand in the way of his path to 2028. The big picture: The Pennsylvania governor first faces the 2026 midterms,

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro said on Wednesday that he plans to “ignore the noise” when it comes to calls for him to run for president in 2028. The one-term Governor was the reported runner-up to Minnesota Governor Tim Walz to be Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate in the November election.

Disparate sources including Newsweek, a syndicate service serving Fox local affiliates, and The New York Post put out lists of Democratic presidential contenders last week. The only four names that appeared on each were: Shapiro, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.

The next presidential election cycle won’t get underway in earnest until 2026 or 2027. But there will be signs if Gov. Josh Shapiro or other potential candidates are considering a run.