2028 United States presidential election

Dan Greaney

Dan Greaney is a television writer and Harvard University graduate. Greaney is credited with writing the episode of The Simpsons "Bart to the Future" in 2000. The episode presented the possibility of a Donald Trump presidency, which would occur in 2016.^[41] On May 26, 2026, Greaney announced his intention to run for president in 2028 on his Instagram account.^[42] In a press release, his campaign stated he would run as a "progressive Republican in the tradition of Abraham Lincoln and Teddy Roosevelt," naming universal health care and the Green New Deal as policy planks.^[43]

Gregory Bovino

Gregory Bovino served as the commander-at-large of the United States Border Patrol from October 2025 until his removal in January 2026. In June 2026, NewsNation and The Daily Beast had reported that Bovino had taken steps towards running in the 2028 election, including creating a website and forming an exploratory committee.^[44][45] He told NewsNation that his campaign was currently exploratory, but would launch a formal campaign "if it all comes together."^[44] Following the report, Bovino posted to X that "[if] running for President is what it takes to actually get [mass deportation] done, then all options are on the table".^[46] A campaign website created by supporters of Bovino lists policy planks such as reinstating the Department of Government Efficiency and creating a "department of masculinity".^[45]

Ted Cruz

Ted Cruz has served as a United States senator from Texas since 2013 after being appointed as the 3rd Solicitor General of Texas by then Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott, he served this role from 2003 to 2008. Initially reluctant to support Trump, Cruz has become a key Republican figure and a close ally of Trump.^[47] Cruz was born in Canada after his father, preacher Rafael Cruz, immigrated there from Cuba, though he is still able fulfill the natural-born citizen requirement due to his mother's American citizenship which he inherited.^[48] He now serves as the chair of the Senate Commerce Committee after serving as the ranking member from 2023 to 2025. The runner-up to Donald Trump in the 2016 Republican Party presidential primaries, Cruz has said that he expects to seek the presidency again at some point. He was mentioned as a potential candidate by Axios^[49] and The Hill.^[50] In December 2025, The Washington Post reported that Cruz was considering a presidential campaign.^[51] In May 2026, Cruz travelled to early primary state Iowa, prompting speculation that he was laying the groundwork for a presidential run.^[52][53]

Ron DeSantis

Ron DeSantis has served as the 46th governor of Florida since 2019 and previously ran for the Republican presidential nomination in 2024. He is barred by the state's constitution from seeking a third term as governor. He expressed an openness towards running for president in a March 2026 podcast interview with Sean Hannity.^[54] The Florida Phoenix described it as DeSantis "leaving the door open" for a potential run.^[55]

Rand Paul

Rand Paul has served as a U.S. senator from Kentucky since 2011. He previously ran for president in 2016, dropping out after finishing fifth in the 2016 Iowa Republican presidential caucuses.^[56] He stated in a December 2025 ABC News interview that he did not view Vice President JD Vance as Trump's "heir apparent."^[57] He indicated in a March 2026 interview on CBS News Sunday Morning that he was "considering" a run for president in 2028, saying it was a fifty-fifty chance he would run.^[58]

Marco Rubio

Marco Rubio is the United States Secretary of State and served as a U.S. senator from Florida from 2011 to 2025. Rubio sought the Republican nomination for president of the United States in 2016, losing to Donald Trump.^[59] Other sources report Rubio acknowledging Vance as the clear front-runner for the nomination, and that he "will do anything he can just to support the vice president in that effort."^[60] According to Vanity Fair, Rubio has said that he will not enter the race if JD Vance enters.^[61] According to Politico, Rubio is also speculated as the running mate for a possible Vance run, with President Trump repeatedly naming Vance and Rubio as his two most likely successors.^[60] Following Rubio's prominent role in the Iran war in March 2026, speculation increased that Rubio would run for president in 2028.^[62] President Trump also polled a group of GOP donors at Mar-a-Lago, who overwhelmingly supported Rubio.^[63]

JD Vance

JD Vance has served as the 50th vice president of the United States since 2025. He previously served as a U.S. senator from Ohio from 2023 to 2025. In an interview in November 2025, he acknowledged giving consideration to running for president in 2028 and planned to speak with President Trump about it after the midterms, but said he wants to focus on winning the midterms first.^[64] In February 2026, Reuters reported that Vance and Rubio had become the central figures in speculation over Trump's possible Republican successor, while noting that Trump had declined to endorse either man.^[65] In May 2026, Vance travelled to early primary state Iowa to support representative Zach Nunn, fueling speculation that he was laying groundwork for a presidential run.^[66][67]

Tulsi Gabbard

Tulsi Gabbard is the outgoing Director of National Intelligence, having announced her resignation from that post effective June 30, 2026.^[68] She served as the U.S. representative from Hawaii's 2nd congressional district from 2013 to 2021. She ran for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020, registered as an independent in 2022, and joined the Republican Party in 2024. Gabbard has been considered as a potential presidential candidate by Axios^[69] and The Spectator.^[70]

Josh Hawley

Josh Hawley has served as a U.S. senator from Missouri since 2019, having previously served as the Missouri Attorney General from 2017 to 2019. He has been mentioned as a potential candidate by Axios^[71] and the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.^[72]

Pete Hegseth

Pete Hegseth has served as Secretary of Defense since January 2025, under President Donald Trump. He previously worked as a television presenter for Fox News and served as a major in the Army National Guard. He has been considered as a potential presidential candidate by The New York Times,^[73] The Daily Beast,^[74] and The Washington Post.^[75]

Sarah Huckabee Sanders

Sarah Huckabee Sanders has served as the governor of Arkansas since 2023 and previously served as the 31st White House Press Secretary in the first Trump administration. She is the daughter of current United States Ambassador to Israel and former Governor of Arkansas Mike Huckabee, who ran in the 2008 and 2016 Republican Party presidential primaries. She has been noted as a possible contender by Axios^[76] and The Washington Post.^[77][75]

Brian Kemp

Brian Kemp served as the Governor of Georgia from 2019 to 2027. Kemp, who is retiring in 2027 due to term limits, is widely seen as a leading alternative to Trump within the Republican Party. In May 2025, he announced that he would not run in the 2026 United States Senate election in Georgia, a decision that fueled speculation about a possible presidential campaign in 2028.^[78]

Many political observers interpreted Kemp's decision to pass up a Senate bid as a sign that he may be preparing for a presidential campaign instead. He has been identified as a potential 2028 presidential candidate by CNN^[78] and The Washington Post.^[79]

Thomas Massie

Thomas Massie has served as the U.S. representative for Kentucky's 4th congressional district since 2012. A Republican with libertarian leanings, he is known for fiscal conservatism and often voting against party leadership. In October 2025, former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey endorsed him for president on X, posting "@RepThomasMassie for president."^[80] Massie responded positively but said he had no intention to run. Following a public clash with President Donald Trump in late 2025—particularly over demands to release the Epstein files—online speculation surged about a potential 2028 presidential ticket with Marjorie Taylor Greene, dubbed "Massie-Greene 2028" by supporters.^[81] Massie has not declared any presidential candidacy and remains in Congress, where he lost a Trump-backed primary challenge in his 2026 reelection bid amid ongoing tensions, including his push for Epstein file releases.^[82][83] Following his loss in the Republican primary, Massie filed to run for his seat in the 2028 cycle.^[84]

Andy Beshear

Andy Beshear has served as the 63rd governor of Kentucky since 2019. He was also considered a potential running mate for Kamala Harris during the 2024 presidential election.^[115] In an October 2025 interview with NPR, he mentioned the possibility of running for president in 2028,^[116] and during a visit to New Hampshire later that month, he said he would "consider" a run.^[117][118] In December 2025, CBS News reported that Beshear's new role as chair of the Democratic Governors Association was raising his national profile; Beshear said Democratic governors "produce tangible results that you can see and touch and feel".^[119] In a January 2026 profile in Politico, Beshear argued that his status as "a guy who has won three straight statewide elections in a Trump plus-30 state" made him the most electable candidate for Democrats.^[120] While announcing his new book in February 2026, Beshear again left open the possibility of a presidential run, saying, "While I haven't made any decision about 2028, what I have committed to is not leaving a broken country to my kids or to anybody else's."^[121] Beshear stated in a May 2026 interview with Ali Vitali of MS NOW that he would not make a decision on entering the presidential race until his tenure as the head of the Democratic Governors Association concludes.^[122]

Hunter Biden

Hunter Biden is a businessman, disbarred attorney, and son of former President Joe Biden. Biden was convicted on federal gun and tax charges in 2024, but was pardoned by his father in December of that year.^[123] In June 2026, Biden hinted a 2028 presidential run, saying on X, "Let's take another crack with a Biden".^[124] The idea was entertained by President Donald Trump, who said that Biden could have a shot at winning the Democratic nomination if candidates like Graham Platner could be supported by the Democratic Party.^[125] On June 11, Biden said on Gavin Newsom's podcast that he'd run, but only as Newsom's vice president.^{[126][better source needed]}

Pete Buttigieg

Pete Buttigieg served as the United States Secretary of Transportation from 2021 to 2025. Prior to becoming Secretary of Transportation, he served as mayor of South Bend, Indiana, from 2012 to 2020. Buttigieg was thrust into the national spotlight with his 2020 presidential campaign, where he narrowly won the Iowa caucus and finished a close second in the New Hampshire primary, but ultimately dropped out after a poor performance in South Carolina.^[127] Buttigieg was also a contender to be Vice President Kamala Harris' running mate after she secured the Democratic nomination for president. If nominated, Buttigieg would be the first openly LGBT individual to receive the nomination of a major party in the United States.^[128]

It was later reported that Buttigieg was leading polls in New Hampshire in October 2025.^[129][130] In February 2026, a University of New Hampshire Granite State Poll again found Buttigieg leading the prospective Democratic field in New Hampshire.^[131] Asked during a February 2026 visit to New Hampshire whether he would run for president in 2028, Buttigieg replied that it was "a long way from any kind of decision like that."^[132]

Rahm Emanuel

Rahm Emanuel most recently served as United States ambassador to Japan from 2022 to 2025. He represented Illinois in the United States House of Representatives for three terms from 2003 to 2009. He was the White House Chief of Staff from 2009 to 2010 under President Barack Obama and served as mayor of Chicago from 2011 to 2019. He has expressed interest in September 2025 in an article in The Wall Street Journal,^[133] as well as in October 2025 in The Atlantic,^[134] and in January 2026 in Axios. In that January 2026 Axios interview, Emanuel said that "there's two wings in our party right now, and I hope to dominate one of them," contrasting a Democratic "renewal wing" with what he called a "resistance wing".^[135] Later that month, Axios reported that Emanuel was among the few prospective 2028 Democratic candidates willing to give direct answers on transgender issues, saying that "a man" could not become "a woman".^[136] Also in January 2026, Emanuel proposed a mandatory retirement age of 75 for the president, Congress, and federal judges, a standard he said would apply to him as well.^[137]

Ruben Gallego

Ruben Gallego has served as a U.S. senator from Arizona since 2025. He has been mentioned as a potential candidate by The Hill,^[138] Politico,^[139] and The New York Times.^[140] Gallego stated in an April 2026 interview that he would "have to look at it," referring to a potential run for president.^[141]

Kamala Harris

Kamala Harris served as the 49th (and first female) vice president of the United States from 2021 to 2025. She became the party's nominee for president in the 2024 presidential election after President Joe Biden withdrew from the race, losing to Trump.^[142] Following the 2024 presidential election, Harris considered running for governor of California in 2026,^[143] but in July 2025 she opted not to, a decision that left open the possibility of another presidential bid.^[144] In a Chicago stop of her 107 Days book tour, Harris expressed uncertainty about running again.^[145] In an interview with the Associated Press that month, Harris said of a possible 2028 run, "I haven't decided. Sincerely. I have not decided. I may or I may not. I have not decided," while also saying, "I am a leader of the party."^[146] She later spoke with Laura Kuenssberg in an October 2025 interview on BBC News about potentially running for president again, stating "I am not done".^[147] In November 2025, Morning Consult reported that Harris remained atop its hypothetical Democratic primary field.^[148] In February 2026, polls suggested that Harris would win the election in a rematch with President Donald Trump.^[149][150] She remarked in a podcast interview with Sharon McMahon that same month that she had not decided on running again for president in 2028.^[151]

Mark Kelly

Mark Kelly has served as a U.S. senator from Arizona since 2020. He was previously on the shortlist to be the vice presidential nominee for the 2024 election, and was seen as a potential replacement for President Joe Biden before he withdrew from the race.^[152] He has been noted as a potential candidate by Axios^[153] and Politico.^[154] During a January 2026 interview with Aaron Parnas, Kelly confirmed he was considering a run for president.^[155] He reiterated that he was considering a presidential run in an interview with CNN several weeks later,^[156] again in a BBC interview in February,^[157] and once again in April at a conference in Washington DC.^[158]

Ro Khanna

Ro Khanna has served as the U.S. representative for California's 17th congressional district since 2017. A progressive aligned with the Bernie Sanders wing of the Democratic Party, he was a co-chair of Sanders's 2020 presidential campaign.^[159] In November 2025, Semafor wrote that the "very early 2028 conversation" had produced "a surge" for Khanna,^[160] and in January 2026, Axios included him among Democrats viewed as possible 2028 contenders.^[136] Khanna gave his clearest public indication of possible interest in March 2026, when, during an interview with WMUR-TV while visiting New Hampshire, he said of a possible presidential bid, "We'll look at that after the midterm," and added that he would decide "whether I'm a candidate or not" after the midterm.^[161] Khanna "teased a presidential run during a conversation with ... Al Sharpton" in early April 2026.^[162] In June 2026, Politico reported that former White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain has been advising Khanna "as he prepares for a possible 2028 presidential bid."^[163]

Mitch Landrieu

Mitch Landrieu most recently served as senior advisor to the president for infrastructure investment and jobs from 2021 to 2024. He previously served as mayor of New Orleans from 2010 to 2018 and lieutenant governor of Louisiana from 2004 to 2010. In an interview with CNN, Landrieu expressed possible interest in a president campaign, stating "Whether I'm the president or one of a hundred of my best friends are president, I am at a point in my life where I really feel like the future of the country is at stake. And so, people say, 'What, are you going to run for president?' Maybe."^[164] Randal Gaines, the chair of the Louisiana Democratic Party, spoke to Landrieu about running for the 2026 United States Senate election in Louisiana, though Landrieu was more interested in "a run for president."^[165]

Don Lemon

Don Lemon most recently worked as a television news anchor for CNN from 2006 to 2023. He previously served as a correspondent and host on several CNN programs, including Don Lemon Tonight. Following his departure from CNN, Lemon launched independent media projects and public commentary programs, such as The Don Lemon Show. On May 6, 2026, during the Sir Harry Evans Investigative Journalism Summit, Lemon revealed his ambitions towards a potential candidacy, expressing that he was "seriously considering" a presidential run.^[166] A fierce critic of U.S. President Donald Trump, Lemon stated in an interview with journalist Kara Swisher that he could "definitely run the country a lot better than Donald Trump."^[167] A registered independent, Lemon stated that if he were to run for president, he would register as a Democrat.^[168]

Gavin Newsom

Gavin Newsom has served as the 40th governor of California since 2019. Newsom has been widely viewed as a contender for the 2028 presidential election by outlets including Reuters^[169] and the Associated Press.^[170] He was seen as a potential replacement for Biden after his withdrawal from the 2024 election by The New York Times.^[171] According to The New York Times, Newsom was considering a bid for the presidency by September 2023.^[172] After Newsom's response to the June 2025 Los Angeles protests, it was reported that his chances of being the 2028 Democratic nominee increased significantly.^[173][174] Newsom's chances reportedly rose further in August 2025, attributed to the Election Rigging Response Act and him mocking President Donald Trump on social media.^{[175][176][177]} In October 2025, in an interview with CBS News Sunday Morning, Newsom stated that after the 2026 midterm elections, he would give "serious thought" to it, adding, "Yeah, I'd be lying otherwise."^[178] In December 2025, Axios reported that rival Democratic operatives viewed Newsom as the early 2028 frontrunner and "the guy to beat".^[179] When asked about running for president in February 2026, he stated "It's wildly premature."^[180] Later that month, Newsom told The Guardian, "If someone else doesn't have that fire, that sense of purpose and mission, then, yeah, I could see myself stepping into that void."^[181]

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has served as the representative of New York's 14th congressional district since 2019. Politico noted that Ocasio-Cortez "has a prominent following from younger, diverse people".^[182] Axios noted in April 2025 that Ocasio-Cortez has been "surging in early polling of potential 2028 presidential candidates".^[183] Despite this lead, it was later noted that the odds of other candidates such as Gavin Newsom were starting to widen.^[177] Vanity Fair has reported that Ocasio-Cortez is reluctant to launch a presidential campaign and also noted that some have called for her to primary Chuck Schumer in the 2028 New York Senate elections.^[184] In September 2025, Axios reported that Ocasio-Cortez was positioning to run for president or Senate in 2028.^[185] The Hill conducted a poll on December 8, 2025, where Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez led among young voters.^[186] According to other polls by The Guardian, Ocasio-Cortez is one of the top contenders beside Harris and Newsom.^[187] In December, Ocasio-Cortez responded to a poll that showed she led Vance by tweeting "Bloop!"^[188] She has drawn contrasts between herself and Vance on various issues as of January 2026.^{[update][189]} In 2026, Ocasio-Cortez attended the Munich Security Conference, which increased her visibility as a leader for Democrats.^[190] Ocasio-Cortez has been seen as the far-left option for Democrats, and has attempted to make amends with leftist critics, including by pledging not to support defensive aid to Israel at a forum of the New York City chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America.^[191][192] She spoke about a possible 2028 presidential run while being interviewed by David Axelrod in May 2026.^[193][194]

Elissa Slotkin

Elissa Slotkin has served as a U.S. senator from Michigan since 2025. She indicated that she was considering a 2028 presidential run in an April 2026 interview with the Associated Press,^[195] and in an interview with The Des Moines Register that same month.^[196]

Gretchen Whitmer

Gretchen Whitmer has served as the 49th governor of Michigan since 2019. Whitmer cast doubt in early October 2025 on a 2028 presidential bid.^[197] That same month, she stated that she would not "close the door" on a run for president.^[198] She remarked in April 2026 that she was unsure of whether she would run.^[199]

She appeared to decline a run in May 2026 at the Mackinac Policy Conference and "backtracked" the same day,^[200] saying "never say never."^[201]

John Fetterman

John Fetterman has served as a U.S. senator from Pennsylvania since 2023, and previously served as Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania from 2019 to 2023. Fetterman has frequently been considered one of the Senate Democratic Caucus's most centrist members, most notably for crossing party lines to confirm some of Trump's Cabinet appointees, his consistent support for the state of Israel, and his decision to vote with Senate Republicans to end the shutdown fight. Fetterman has been reported to be "leaving all doors open" for 2028, including a run for re-election to the Senate as well as a presidential bid,^[202][203] though he has yet to state his intentions.^[204] When asked in December 2025 about a presidential run, he replied "It's 2025."^[205]

JB Pritzker

JB Pritzker has served as the 43rd governor of Illinois since 2019. Pritzker is one of the wealthiest elected officials in America, with an estimated net worth of $3.7 billion,^[206] and has largely bankrolled his own gubernatorial campaigns, as well as national abortion-rights initiatives.^[207][208] Pritzker was considered a potential running mate to Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election.^[209] Pritzker is a potential Democratic contender, according to Capitol News Illinois,^[210] The New York Times,^[140] and The Hill,^[211] and has declined to rule out a run.^[212][213] In 2023, Pritzker declined to speak directly with Representative Dean Phillips regarding his effort to try to convince him to enter the Democratic Party presidential primary race to oppose Biden.^[214][215] Pritzker is also seeking a third term as governor of Illinois in 2026.^[216]

Josh Shapiro

Josh Shapiro has served as the 48th governor of Pennsylvania since 2023. Shapiro was elected in 2022 by 15 points in a state won by Donald Trump twice, and is relatively popular in his home state.^[217] Following the announcement of his autobiography and book tour, he has been viewed as a potential Democratic presidential candidate by The Washington Post^[218] and The Philadelphia Inquirer.^[219]

Jon Stewart

Jon Stewart is an activist, comedian, and commentator. Stewart had been the subject of speculation for years as a potential presidential candidate, including in a Politico opinion piece by Juleanna Glover where Stewart was described as a potentially formidable anti-establishment outsider 2024 Democratic candidate in the event that Biden did not run.^[220] Since then, Stewart has been mentioned as a potential 2028 Democratic candidate by The Hill,^[221] USA Today,^[222] the Washington Examiner,^[223] and Zeteo in late 2025^[224] as well as Current Affairs in early 2026.^[225] In a late July 2025 interview with Mehdi Hasan, Stewart stated that "the Democratic Party is ripe for a takeover ... they just need to find the right reality host," and was pressed by Hasan on a potential 2028 Democratic presidential run, to which Hasan recalled that Stewart "didn't deny that was what he was suggesting."^[224] Stewart has been included in multiple 2028 national primary polls by Echelon Insights from September to November 2025.^[f] In a December 2025 interview with Tim Miller of The Bulwark, Stewart mentioned that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. could be a strong Republican nominee in 2028. Miller responded by suggesting a potential election face-off between Kennedy and Stewart, to which Stewart did not offer comment.^[229] Race to the White House includes Stewart at 2% in its national presidential polling average for the Democratic primaries as of March 2026.^[230] Stewart later addressed the idea of running for president directly in January 2026, stating that he believed appeals were coming out of a feeling of "helplessness."^[231][232]

Jo Jorgensen

Jo Jorgensen is an academic and political activist who was the Libertarian Party's presidential nominee in the 2020 election. In May 2026, Jorgensen announced the formation of an exploratory committee to weigh a potential run for the 2028 Libertarian presidential nomination.^[256][257]

Afroman

Afroman is a rapper, singer and musician who ran as an independent presidential candidate in 2024. In an April 2026 interview with Reason magazine, he hinted at a possible run for the Libertarian Party's 2028 presidential nomination.^[258][259]

Andrew Yang

Andrew Yang is a businessman and political activist who sought the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020.^[260] He later founded the Forward Party.^[261] In early 2026, excerpts from his forthcoming book reported by The Independent and The Times quoted Yang as saying that “the odds of my running again are high,” signaling potential interest in a 2028 presidential bid, likely under the Forward Party banner.^[262][263]

JD Vance vs. Kamala Harris

JD Vance vs. Gavin Newsom

JD Vance vs. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

JD Vance vs. Josh Shapiro

JD Vance vs. Stephen A. Smith

JD Vance vs. Gretchen Whitmer

JD Vance vs. Pete Buttigieg

Marco Rubio vs. Kamala Harris

Marco Rubio vs. Gavin Newsom