Pete Buttigieg, the former transportation secretary, ruled out a run for statewide office in Michigan in 2026 and made it clear that he was keeping his 2028 options open.

Gov. JB Pritzker of Illinois is headed to New Hampshire next month, visiting a traditional battleground in the presidential primary campaign years before any campaign is underway.

And even if Iowa isn’t still Iowa, Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota found himself on Friday in the state that once kicked off the presidential nominating contest, addressing a group of frustrated and furious Democrats. As the Trump administration marches ahead with an aggressive agenda and Democrats grow angry with their leaders in Congress, some of the party’s most ambitious politicians are quietly, and perhaps almost wistfully, looking ahead.

One thousand, three hundred and thirty-four days ahead, to be exact.

Quiet conversations about the next race for the White House are already underway among Democratic strategists, activists and, yes, a stable of would-be, could-be candidates. None would dare announce any such aspiration aloud. Many have yet to decide, even privately, whether they will take steps toward a bid.

But why let reality get in the way of a good shadow primary? Across the country, political operatives, donors and journalists are scrutinizing and overanalyzing these Democrats’ words, policy positions and travel schedules for any sign of presidential plotting. And these Democrats are sometimes — if not often — leaving breadcrumbs to lure such attention.

“Everything that Trump is doing is just so traumatic and so jarring to your soul,” said Raymond Buckley, the chairman of the New Hampshire Democratic Party. “It’s a good reminder that there’s a day after tomorrow. Thinking about ’28, it allows some people to survive the trauma better.”