A group of prominent Wall Street donors has held private listening sessions with Democrats weighing potential presidential bids for 2028, including Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona, former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, and Governors Andy Beshear (Kentucky) and Josh Shapiro (Pennsylvania), according to sources familiar with the matter.
The group includes Centerview Partners co-founder Blair Effron; SSW Partners partner Joshua Steiner; former Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, now chairman of private equity firm Warburg Pincus; Blackstone Vice Chairman Tom Nides; and former Oracle President Charles Phillips.
In April, Emanuel met with four veteran investors to pitch a potential presidential run, including hedge-fund manager John Petry and Boykin Curry, a former managing director at investment firm Eagle Capital.
“John Petry reached out to me and said, ‘I love what you are saying about education. Would you meet?'” Emanuel told sources.
“I’m the only person they haven’t contributed to,” Emanuel added.
Both Petry and Curry confirmed the meeting.
Emanuel has also spoken with Avenue Capital CEO Marc Lasry. Shapiro similarly met with Lasry.
Kelly recently had dinner with a party fundraiser and attorney who specializes in corporate bankruptcies.
Beshear has also ramped up his donor meetings.
The primary season won’t begin in earnest until after November’s midterm elections, but a collection of Democrats is already jockeying for position in what promises to be a crowded field.
