2028 United States presidential election

Presidential elections are scheduled to be held in the United States on November 7, 2028, to elect the president and vice president for a term of four years. In the 2024 elections, then-former president Donald Trump won a non-consecutive second term. The Republican Party retained its majority in the House of Representatives and gained control of the Senate. Trump is not eligible to run for re-election in 2028, as the term limits imposed by the 22nd Amendment to the United States Constitution prohibit presidents from being elected more than twice. As a result, it is set to be the first time since 2012 that Trump is not the Republican nominee and the first time since 1884 that two consecutive elections lack an incumbent president on the ballot.

Quick facts 538 members of the Electoral College 270 electoral votes needed to win, Party ...

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538 members of the Electoral College
270 electoral votes needed to win


Party	Republican	Democratic

2028 electoral map, based on the results of the 2020 census

Incumbent President

Donald Trump
Republican

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Background

The Republican Party returned to power in the United States in January 2025 with a government trifecta—controlling the Senate, House of Representatives, and the presidency—following the 2024 elections. Donald Trump, who was elected president in 2016 before losing a re-election bid in 2020 to Joe Biden, defeated Vice President Kamala Harris, who began her campaign following Biden's withdrawal from his re-election bid. Trump's victory was attributed to a post-pandemic surge in inflation,^[a] and a migrant crisis at the US–Mexico border,^[b] amidst the global anti-incumbent backlash.^[7]^[8]^[9] In March 2024, the Supreme Court unanimously ruled in Trump v. Anderson that Trump could seek office after challenges to his ballot eligibility were raised by several state attorneys general.^[10]

JD Vance, a U.S. senator from Ohio, was selected as Trump's running mate^[11] and subsequently elected vice president.

In addition, Republicans secured control of the Senate, flipping four seats and earning a three-seat majority, while also retaining a House majority, though the party's majority narrowed to three seats after losing two seats.^[12]

Electoral system

The president and vice president of the United States are elected through the Electoral College, determined by the number of senators and representatives with an additional three representatives for Washington, D.C. A majority of 270 votes is needed to win the election. 48 states use a winner-take-all system, in which states award all of their electors to the winner of the popular vote. In Maine and Nebraska, two votes are allocated to the winner of the popular vote, while each of the individual congressional districts have one vote. Electoral votes are certified by state electors in December and by Congress on January 6.^[13] Presidential candidates are selected in a presidential primary, conducted through primary elections run by state governments or caucuses run by state parties which bind convention delegates to candidates.^[14] A brokered convention occurs when a candidate does not receive a majority of votes on the first round of voting,^[15] or when a candidate withdraws.^[16]

Election Day in the United States is held on the first Tuesday that falls after the first Monday in November.^[17] The 2028 presidential election will occur on November 7, 2028.

Eligibility

The United States Constitution limits occupancy of the presidency to individuals who are at least thirty-five, who have been a resident in the United States for at least fourteen years, and who are a natural-born citizen.^[18] Section three of the Fourteenth Amendment prevents current and former federal, state, and military officials from holding office—including the presidency—if they have "engaged in insurrection or rebellion" against the United States.^[19] A convicted felon may serve as president.^[20] Incumbent president Trump, along with former presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama, are ineligible to be elected to a third term, as the Twenty-second Amendment prohibits any person from being elected president more than twice.^[21]

Trump's suggestions on running for a third term

Since beginning his second term in January 2025, Trump has floated the possibility of seeking a third term. On October 27, 2025, when asked about a third term by a reporter on Air Force One, Trump said that he would "love to do it". Trump did rule out a run for vice president, stating that it "wouldn't be right". A hypothetical third term would give Trump four additional years as president after 2028, going through the 2032 United States presidential election, and ending on January 20, 2033;^[22]^[23] however, the possibility of a third term is unconstitutional under the Twenty-second Amendment, barring all former and current presidents from seeking more than two terms in office. If Trump intends to have the amendment repealed, he would have to either require approval from two-thirds of both the House of Representatives and the Senate, or he would need a constitutional convention called by two-thirds of state legislatures, a process viewed by experts as extremely unlikely.^[24]^[25]

Electoral map

Most US states are usually not highly competitive in presidential elections, often voting consistently for the same party due to longstanding demographic and ideological differences. In the Electoral College, this results in major-party candidates primarily focusing their campaigns on swing states, which can swing between parties from election to election. These states are critical for a presidential candidate's path to victory. For 2028, the expected swing states likely include the Rust Belt states of Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Michigan, and the Sun Belt states of Arizona, Georgia, Nevada, and North Carolina, all of which narrowly voted for Trump in 2024.^[26]^[27]^[28] Other possible swing states include traditional Democratic strongholds that shifted toward Trump and were only narrowly won by Harris in 2024: New Jersey^[29]^[30] and Minnesota;^[31] though 2025 polls show a reversal of pro-Trump trends.^[32]

States formerly considered swing states, such as Florida, Iowa, and Ohio, voted for Trump in all three of his previous election bids, as well as for Republican candidates in other state and federal elections, with increasing margins in each election and are now seen as solidly red states.^[33]^[34]^[35] Former red or swing states that, since 2008, have consistently voted Democratic include Colorado, New Hampshire, New Mexico, and Virginia.^[36] Due to its recent record of voting Democratic even during Republican national victories, Nebraska's 2nd congressional district has been called "the Blue Dot."^[37]^[38] Conversely, Maine's 2nd congressional district has not voted Democratic in any statewide race since 2012.

Republican Party primaries

Candidates

Declared

More information Candidate, Born ...

Candidate	Born	Experience	State	Announcement date	Campaign	Ref
Dan Greaney	September 28, 1964 (age 61) Duxbury, Massachusetts	Lawyer, television writer	California	May 26, 2026	FEC filing^[39] Website	^[40]

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Dan Greaney

Dan Greaney is a television writer, lawyer, 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] He held his official campaign announcement on June 5, 2026.^[44]

Formed exploratory committee

More information Candidate, Born ...

Candidate	Born	Experience	State	Exploratory committee announced	Ref
Gregory Bovino	March 27, 1970 (age 56) San Bernardino County, California	Commander-at-large of U.S. Border Patrol (2025–2026)	California	June 8, 2026	^[45]

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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 forming an exploratory committee.^[45]^[46] He told NewsNation that his campaign was currently exploratory, but would launch a formal campaign "if it all comes together."^[45] 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".^[47] 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."^[46]

Expressed interest

Individuals who have expressed an interest in running for the Republican presidential nomination^[c]

Senator
Ted Cruz
from Texas
(2013–present)
Governor
Ron DeSantis
of Florida
(2019–present)
Senator
John Kennedy
from Louisiana
(2017–present)
Senator
Rand Paul
from Kentucky
(2011–present)
Secretary of State
Marco Rubio
from Florida
(2025–present)
Vice President
JD Vance
from Ohio
(2025–present)

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.^[48] Cruz was born in Canada after his father, preacher Rafael Cruz, immigrated there from Cuba, though he is still able to fulfill the natural-born citizen requirement due to his mother's American citizenship which he inherited.^[49] 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. In May 2026, Cruz travelled to early primary state Iowa, prompting speculation that he was laying the groundwork for a presidential run.^[50]^[51]

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.^[52] The Florida Phoenix described it as DeSantis "leaving the door open" for a potential run.^[53]

John Kennedy

John Kennedy has served as a U.S. senator from Louisiana since 2017. He said in a New Hampshire interview at Politics and Eggs that he planned to run for re-election but he would "never say never" to a possible presidential run.^[54] He said in a June 2026 interview at New Hampshire Institute of Politics at Saint Anselm College that he had been contacted by donors about a run for president and that he was open to the idea.^[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] Paul stated in a June interview with Semafor that he would "look at" a presidential run after the midterms conclude.^[59]

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.^[60] Rubio has reportedly acknowledged 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."^[61] According to Vanity Fair, Rubio has said that he will not enter the race if JD Vance enters.^[62] 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.^[61] Following Rubio's prominent role in the Iran war in March 2026, speculation increased that Rubio would run for president in 2028.^[63] President Trump also polled a group of GOP donors at Mar-a-Lago, who overwhelmingly supported Rubio.^[64]

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.^[65] 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.^[66] 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.^[67]^[68]

Speculated by the media

Potential Republican candidates^[d]

Minority Owner of the Las Vegas Raiders
Tom Brady
from Florida
(2025–present)
Secretary of Defense
Pete Hegseth
from Tennessee
(2025–present)
Governor
Sarah Huckabee Sanders
of Arkansas
(2023–present)
Governor
Brian Kemp
of Georgia
(2019–present)

Tom Brady

Tom Brady has been a shareholder in the Las Vegas Raiders since 2025. Brady's first foray into politics began when his former partner, Sam Bankman-Fried, attempted to get Brady to run for the Republican primary in the 2024 United States presidential election. Bankman-Fried also conducted a poll on Brady's behalf inquiring to see whether or not Americans would be interested in a presidential run.^[69] In May 2026, Brady spoke with former Secretary of State and 2004 Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry at Georgetown University for their commencement ceremonies, which was touted as a potential move into politics.^[70] Television commentator Mike Florio noted that Brady's "slow-motion pivot into pro wrestling" could be a move to expand his portfolio for a presidential run.^[69]

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 Washington Post,^[71] The Daily Beast,^[72] and The New York Times.^[73]

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^[74] and The Washington Post.^[75]^[71]

Brian Kemp

Brian Kemp has served as the governor of Georgia since 2019. 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.^[76] He has been identified as a potential 2028 presidential candidate by CNN^[76] and The Washington Post.^[77]

Declined to be candidates

The following individuals have publicly denied interest in being a candidate:

Steve Bannon, Senior Counselor to the President (2017)^[78]^[79]
Scott Bessent, United States Secretary of the Treasury (2025-present)^[80]
Mike Braun, 52nd governor of Indiana (2025–present) and U.S. senator from Indiana (2019–2025)^[81]
Spencer Cox, 18th governor of Utah (2021–present)^[82]
Sean Duffy, 20th United States secretary of transportation (2025–present)^[83]
Nikki Haley, 28th U.S. ambassador to the United Nations (2017–2018), 116th governor of South Carolina (2011–2017), and candidate for president in 2024^[84]
Eric Holcomb, 51st governor of Indiana (2017–2025) and 51st lieutenant governor of Indiana (2016–2017)^[85]
Mike Johnson, 56th speaker of the United States House of Representatives (2023–present) and U.S. representative from LA-4 (2017–present)^[86]^{[better source needed]}
Ron Johnson, U.S. senator from Wisconsin (2011–present)^[87]^{[better source needed]}
Dave McCormick, U.S. senator from Pennsylvania (2025–present)^[88]
Linda McMahon, U.S. secretary of education (2025–present)^[89]
Candace Owens, far-right political commentator (endorsed Carlson)^[90]
Mike Pence, 48th vice president of the United States (2017–2021), 2024 presidential candidate, 50th governor of Indiana (2013–2017), and U.S. representative from Indiana^[91]
Vivek Ramaswamy, entrepreneur, 2024 presidential candidate, and 2026 Ohio gubernatorial candidate^[92]
Mitt Romney, businessman, U.S. senator from Utah (2019–2025), 70th governor of Massachusetts (2003–2007), 2008 presidential candidate and 2012 presidential nominee^[93]
Donald Trump Jr., businessman and son of incumbent president Donald Trump^[94]^[95]

Endorsements

Dan Greaney

Individuals

Brent Forrester, comedian and writer^[44]
Mieke Marple, writer (candidate's campaign manager)^[44]

Pete Hegseth (undeclared)

Executive branch officials

Dan Bongino, former deputy director of the FBI (2025–2026)^[72]

Marco Rubio (undeclared)

Individuals

Jeremy Boreing, former CEO of The Daily Wire^[96]
Ken Griffin, entrepreneur and owner of Citadel LLC^[97]

JD Vance (undeclared)

Individuals

Erika Kirk, CEO of Turning Point USA and widow of Charlie Kirk^[98]

Declined to endorse

Executive branch officials

Donald Trump, president of the United States (2017–2021, 2025–present)^[99]

U.S. representatives

Randy Fine, FL-06 (2025–present) (endorsed against Vance)^[100]

Fundraising

More information Campaign finance reports as of June 30, 2026, Candidate ...

Campaign finance reports as of June 30, 2026
Candidate	Raised	Spent	Cash on hand
Dan Greaney (R)	$59,675	$19,968	$39,708
Source: Federal Election Commission^[101]

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Opinion polling

Democratic Party primaries

Third-party and independent candidates

Candidates

Formed exploratory committee

More information Candidate, Born ...

Candidate	Born	Experience	State	Party	Exploratory committee announced	Website	Ref
Jo Jorgensen	May 1, 1957 (age 69) Libertyville, Illinois	2020 Libertarian presidential nominee	South Carolina	Libertarian	May 28, 2026	VoteJo28.com	^[102]

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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.^[102]^[103]

Expressed interest

Individuals who have expressed an interest in running as a third-party or independent candidate^[e]

Musician
Afroman
from Ohio
Entrepreneur
Andrew Yang
from New York

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.^[104]^[105]

Andrew Yang

Andrew Yang is a businessman and political activist who sought the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020.^[106] He later founded the Forward Party.^[107] 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.^[108]^[109]

Declined to be candidates

The following individuals have publicly denied interest in being a candidate:

Tucker Carlson, American conservative media personality and podcaster^[110]^[111]
Mark Cuban, billionaire businessman, co-owner of the Dallas Mavericks, and co-founder of 2929 Entertainment^[112]
Jack Dorsey, former CEO of Twitter and founder of Bluesky^[113] (endorsed Thomas Massie)
Marjorie Taylor Greene, U.S. representative from GA-14 (2021–2026) (endorsed Carlson)^[114]^[115]^[116]
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., United States Secretary of Health and Human Services (2025–present) and 2024 presidential candidate^[117]
Bill Maher, television host, comedian, actor and political commentator^[118] (endorsed Smith)
Kyrsten Sinema, U.S. senator from Arizona (2019–2025) and U.S. representative from AZ-09 (2013–2019)^[119]^[f]

Endorsements

Tucker Carlson (declined)

U.S. representatives

Marjorie Taylor Greene, former GA-14 (2021–2026)^[114]

Individuals

Candace Owens, far-right political commentator^[90]

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (declined)

Individuals

Russell Brand, actor and comedian^[120]

Timeline