2028 election questions, answered

The 2028 U.S. presidential election will be held on Tuesday, November 7, 2028. By law, Election Day falls on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November.

The 2028 election date is Tuesday, November 7, 2028. Federal law fixes Election Day as the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November every four years.

The 2028 presidential election is on Tuesday, November 7, 2028 - 822 days from August 8, 2026. The count below updates every time this page is rebuilt.

The 2028 presidential inauguration is January 20, 2029. The 20th Amendment fixed this date, and the winner of the November 2028 election will be sworn in as the 48th President.

The 2028 presidential campaign effectively starts after the November 2026 midterms, with formal announcements expected through 2027 - historically 12 to 18 months before the first primaries in early 2028. There is no legal start date, and as of July 2026 no major candidate has formally declared.

Yes. The next U.S. presidential election is constitutionally scheduled for Tuesday, November 7, 2028. Presidential elections happen every four years, and no president or official has the power to cancel one.

2032. After the November 7, 2028 election, the next U.S. presidential election is Tuesday, November 2, 2032. Presidential elections are held every four years.

The next presidential election is Tuesday, November 7, 2028. President Donald Trump's current term ends at noon on January 20, 2029, and because he is term-limited under the 22nd Amendment, the 2028 election will choose a new president - the 48th - rather than a third Trump term.

The central date is Election Day, Tuesday, November 7, 2028. Around it: the primaries and caucuses are expected to run from roughly January through June 2028, the national party conventions in the summer of 2028, the Electoral College vote in December 2028, the congressional count on January 6, 2029, and Inauguration Day on January 20, 2029.

No. A president has no legal authority to postpone or cancel a presidential election. Federal law (3 U.S.C. Section 1) sets Election Day; only Congress can change it. The four-year term is fixed by the Constitution and cannot be extended by any executive action.

To be eligible, a person must be a natural-born U.S. citizen, at least 35 years old, and have lived in the U.S. for at least 14 years.

You must be at least 35 years old. There is no maximum age. The Constitution requires the president to be 35 or older when taking office.

Yes. The Constitution lists only three eligibility requirements - age, citizenship, and residency. A criminal conviction does not constitutionally bar someone from running for or serving as president.

No. The Constitution requires the president to be a 'natural-born citizen.' Naturalized citizens - those who became citizens through the legal naturalization process - are not eligible.

Yes. The vice president faces the same eligibility requirements as any other candidate: natural-born citizen, age 35+, 14 years U.S. residency. There is no rule preventing a VP from running for president.

No. The 22nd Amendment bars anyone from being elected president more than twice. Having won in 2016 and 2024, Trump is constitutionally ineligible to be elected president again in 2028.

The 22nd Amendment limits the president to two elected terms. Ratified in 1951, it bars any person from being elected president more than twice.

Yes. Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected four times and served three full terms plus 82 days of a fourth (1933-1945). No president has served a third term since the 22nd Amendment was ratified in 1951, which now constitutionally bars more than two elected terms.

Probably not. The 12th Amendment bars anyone constitutionally ineligible to be president from serving as vice president, and the 22nd Amendment makes Trump ineligible for the presidency.

No. Like every two-term president, Barack Obama is barred by the 22nd Amendment from being elected again. He was elected in 2008 and 2012, reaching the two-term limit, so he cannot run for president in 2028.

Almost certainly not. The 12th Amendment bars anyone ineligible to be president from being vice president, and the 22nd Amendment makes a two-term president like Obama ineligible for the presidency.

Yes. AOC easily meets the constitutional requirements. Born October 13, 1989, she will be 39 years old on Election Day, November 7, 2028, and 39 on Inauguration Day 2029 - well over the minimum age of 35 - and she is a natural-born U.S. citizen.

No. To be president you must be a natural-born U.S. citizen. Zohran Mamdani was born in Kampala, Uganda, in 1991 and became a U.S. citizen by naturalization in 2018, so he is not eligible to be president or vice president.

No, and he cannot. Elon Musk is constitutionally ineligible to be president. The Constitution requires the president to be a natural-born citizen. Musk was born in South Africa and became a U.S. citizen through naturalization, which does not satisfy the natural-born-citizen requirement under Article II.

The vice president must meet the same three constitutional tests as the president: natural-born U.S. citizen, at least 35 years old, and a U.S. resident for 14 years. The 12th Amendment also bars anyone ineligible to be president from serving as vice president.

The 2028 primary calendar is not finalized. Based on historical patterns, primaries and caucuses are expected to begin in January or February 2028, with most states voting by June.

Super Tuesday 2028 has not been officially scheduled yet. Based on historical patterns it will likely fall in early March 2028, but party rules and state decisions will set the exact date.

Primary voters choose delegates who will represent them at the party's national convention. The candidate who wins enough delegates - typically a majority - becomes the party's nominee.

A primary is a standard secret-ballot election run by the state government. A caucus is a series of local party meetings where participants publicly declare their support and may be persuaded before delegates are allocated.

In a closed primary, only registered party members may vote. In an open primary, any registered voter - including independents - may participate. Semi-open and semi-closed variations also exist.

A delegate is a person authorized to represent their state at the national party convention and cast a vote toward selecting the presidential nominee. Primary voters are choosing these delegates, not the nominee directly.

A candidate must win a majority of available delegates - the exact threshold depends on the total delegates each party sets for 2028, which has not been finalized yet.

Superdelegates are Democratic Party leaders and elected officials who are automatic delegates to the national convention and were historically free to vote for any candidate. Rule changes now restrict them to later ballots.

Party rules, state laws, and intense political negotiation determine which state votes first. The order is not fixed in federal law. Both parties set their own calendars and impose penalties on states that jump the queue.

Momentum refers to the self-reinforcing advantages a candidate gains from early wins: more media coverage, more donations, and better polling, which can produce further wins in later states.

Primary debates feature candidates from the same party competing for the nomination. Parties and networks set thresholds - typically polling and fundraising minimums - for candidates to qualify.

Super Tuesday is the informal name for the single day during the presidential primary season when the largest number of states simultaneously hold their primaries or caucuses. It is not a fixed date in law - the timing is set by state and party decisions - but it is the most consequential day of the primary season.

A brokered convention occurs when no candidate enters the national convention with enough delegates to win on the first ballot, leading to multiple rounds of voting and intense behind-the-scenes negotiation.

The 2028 Democratic and Republican national conventions have not been scheduled yet. Based on recent cycles, expect them in July or August 2028, several months before Election Day.

The national convention formally nominates the presidential and vice presidential candidates, adopts the party platform, and serves as a major televised showcase for the party heading into the general election.

The presidential nominee personally selects their running mate. There is no primary or formal party vote. The choice is the nominee's alone, subject to informal vetting and consultation.

Each state gets electoral votes equal to its congressional seats. A candidate needs 270 of 538 to win. Voters choose slates of electors who then cast the official votes in December.

270 out of 538. A candidate must win a majority of electoral votes - at least 270 - to be elected president. If no one reaches 270, the House of Representatives decides.

If no candidate reaches 270 electoral votes, the House of Representatives elects the president, with each state delegation casting one vote. The Senate elects the vice president.

A swing state - also called a battleground state - is one where neither major party has a reliable lead, making it competitive and decisive in the Electoral College.

Yes. Because the president is elected by the Electoral College, not the national popular vote, a candidate can win more total votes nationwide and still lose the election.

A faithless elector is a member of the Electoral College who votes for someone other than the candidate they were pledged to support. Most states now have laws that penalize or nullify faithless votes.

Electoral votes are based on congressional representation. California leads with 54, Texas has 40, and Florida has 30. Small states like Wyoming and Vermont have 3, the minimum. The total is 538.

After Election Day, states certify results, electors meet in December to cast official votes, Congress counts the votes in January, and the winner is inaugurated on January 20.

If no candidate wins 270 electoral votes, the House chooses the president from the top three electoral-vote recipients. Each state delegation casts one vote; 26 votes win.

No. Hawaii is one of the most reliably Democratic states in the country and is not a swing state. It has backed the Democratic presidential nominee in every election since 1960 except the national landslides of 1972 and 1984, and it is expected to do so again in 2028.

The popular vote is the total number of individual ballots cast for each presidential candidate across all 50 states and D.C. It measures national support, but the popular vote does NOT determine who wins the presidency - that is decided by the Electoral College, where a candidate needs at least 270 electoral votes.

Yes. Pennsylvania is one of the most closely contested swing states in modern presidential elections. It carries 19 electoral votes - the most of any battleground state - and it has flipped between the parties in three consecutive elections: Republican in 2016, Democratic in 2020, and Republican again in 2024 (Trump +1.7).

Yes. Michigan is a genuine battleground state. It carries 15 electoral votes and has flipped between the parties in three consecutive elections: Republican in 2016, Democratic in 2020, and Republican again in 2024 (Trump +1.4). It is classified as a tossup for 2028.

Yes. Wisconsin is a closely contested battleground state. It carries 10 electoral votes and has flipped between the parties in three consecutive elections: Republican in 2016, Democratic in 2020, and Republican again in 2024 (Trump +0.9) - the narrowest statewide margin of any battleground in 2024.

Yes. Georgia is one of the nation's premier swing states. It carries 16 electoral votes - tied for the most of any Southern battleground - and it has flipped between the parties in three consecutive elections: Republican in 2016, Democratic in 2020, and Republican again in 2024 (Trump +2.2). It is classified as a tossup for 2028.

Yes. Arizona is a genuine battleground. It carries 11 electoral votes and has flipped between the parties in three consecutive elections: Republican in 2016, Democratic in 2020, and Republican again in 2024 (Trump +5.5). It is classified as a tossup for 2028.

Yes. North Carolina is a battleground, but a distinctive one: it has voted Republican in every recent presidential election (2016, 2020, and 2024, Trump +3.2) while remaining one of the closest states in the country. It carries 16 electoral votes and is classified as a tossup for 2028.

Yes. Nevada is a battleground state. It carries 6 electoral votes and, after voting Democratic in 2016 and 2020, it flipped to Republican in 2024 (Trump +3.1) - its first Republican presidential result since 2004. It is classified as a tossup for 2028.

Not currently. Florida voted Republican in 2016, 2020, and 2024, and is classified as Likely Republican for 2028 - not a tossup. It was one of the most closely contested states in the country for years, but it has moved out of true battleground territory in recent cycles.

Not currently. Texas voted Republican in 2016, 2020, and 2024, and is classified as Likely Republican for 2028. With 40 electoral votes - the second most of any state - it is closely watched for long-term trends, but Texas has not been a genuine presidential battleground in decades.

Not currently. Ohio voted Republican in 2016, 2020, and 2024, and is classified as Likely Republican for 2028. For much of the 20th and early 21st centuries Ohio was the quintessential bellwether swing state, but it has shifted more reliably Republican in recent presidential cycles.

No. California voted Democratic in 2016, 2020, and 2024, and is classified as Safe Democratic for 2028. With 54 electoral votes - the most of any state - California is the largest guaranteed prize on the Democratic side of the presidential map.

The 12th Amendment (ratified 1804) reformed presidential elections by requiring electors to cast separate ballots for president and vice president. It also created the rule that electors cannot cast both votes for candidates from their own state, set the process when no candidate wins an Electoral College majority, and bars anyone ineligible to be president from serving as vice president.

Presidential nominees are chosen by their party's national convention, based on delegates won in state primaries and caucuses. The person who wins a majority of delegates becomes the official nominee.

To register to vote for the 2028 United States presidential election, go to vote.gov and follow the link to your state's official registration portal before your state's deadline. Then vote one of three ways: in person on Election Day (November 7, 2028), in person during early voting, or by mail/absentee. Registration is handled by each state, so check your state's deadline and rules before you vote.

A person becomes an official presidential candidate by filing with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) once they raise or spend more than $5,000, or by making a public declaration of candidacy.

Early voting allows eligible voters to cast ballots before Election Day, either in person at designated locations or by mail/absentee ballot. Rules and availability vary by state.

The presidential transition is the period between Election Day (November 7, 2028) and Inauguration Day (January 20, 2029) during which the incoming president prepares to take power.

Presidential campaigns raise money from individuals, PACs, and party committees under FEC rules. Major candidates typically opt out of public financing to raise and spend unlimited private funds.

Money is necessary but not sufficient. Underfunded candidates rarely win, but the best-funded candidate does not always prevail. Organization, message, and voter enthusiasm all matter.

The lame duck period is the time between Election Day and Inauguration Day when the outgoing president is still in office but a successor has been elected. For 2028-29, this runs November 7 to January 20.

Ranked-choice voting (RCV) lets voters rank candidates by preference. A few states and cities use it for some elections, but the 2028 federal general election will not use RCV - it is decided by the Electoral College under existing rules.

Two deadlines matter. Federal: a candidate must register with the FEC within 15 days of raising or spending more than $5,000 - which can happen at any time. State: each state sets its own primary filing deadline, and most will fall between late 2027 and the summer of 2028. There is no single nationwide deadline, and the official 2028 dates are not finalized yet.

To vote in the 2028 presidential election, register to vote in your state before its deadline, confirm your registration and any ID requirements, then cast your ballot on Election Day (November 7, 2028) or during your state's early-voting or mail/absentee window.

It depends on when. Before the convention, the primary continues with remaining candidates. After the nomination but before Election Day, the party national committee picks a replacement. After the election, electors typically vote for the vice-presidential nominee, and the 20th Amendment covers succession from there.

The 25th Amendment (ratified 1967) governs presidential succession, fills vacancies in the Vice Presidency, and sets the process for removing a president who is unable to perform their duties. Its Section 4 - cabinet-and-VP removal - has never been formally invoked.

If the president dies, resigns, or is removed, the vice president becomes president immediately. After the vice president, the line continues through the Speaker of the House, the President pro tempore of the Senate, and then Cabinet secretaries in a fixed statutory order set by the Presidential Succession Act.

It depends on the state. Most states restore voting rights after prison, parole, or probation; a few require an extra restoration process; Maine and Vermont never take the right away for a felony conviction. There is no single federal rule.

The 2028 presidential debate schedule has not been set. Debates are organized by a non-governmental commission or by agreement between candidates and networks; no 2028 dates or formats have been announced.

Unknown. As of June 2026, no major third-party candidacy has been announced. Third-party campaigns have been a feature of several recent elections; whether one emerges in 2028 depends on the major-party nominees and political conditions.

Incumbent presidents historically win re-election more often than they lose, benefiting from name recognition, the powers of the office, and the presumption of competence. But incumbency is not a guarantee.

The defining issues of 2028 are not yet clear as of June 2026. Presidential elections are typically shaped by the economy, the performance of the outgoing administration, and unexpected events in the years leading up to the race.

Nobody knows yet. The 48th president will be whoever wins the November 7, 2028 election and is sworn in on January 20, 2029. Donald Trump is the current (47th) president and is term-limited, so the 48th will be a new person. No major candidate has declared for 2028 as of June 2026.

The media shapes which candidates and issues receive attention, frames campaign narratives, and provides voters with information. Coverage decisions by major outlets have outsized effects on candidate viability.

As of mid-2026, no major independent candidate has formally entered the 2028 presidential race, so there is no confirmed list of frontrunners. Independent and third-party contenders typically declare and qualify for the ballot later in the cycle - this site tracks them as they emerge.

There is no indication Hillary Clinton is running in 2028. She has not signaled a campaign and is not counted among the 2028 contenders. She is technically eligible - having served only as senator and secretary of state, she is not term-limited - but as of mid-2026 she is not part of the field.

No member of the Bush family is running for president in 2028. Neither Jeb Bush, George P. Bush, nor any other Bush has filed, formed a campaign, or been counted among the 2028 contenders as of mid-2026.

There is no presidential election in 2029. The next U.S. presidential election is November 7, 2028, and its winner is inaugurated on January 20, 2029 - which is likely where the '2029' mix-up comes from. For who is running, see the 2028 candidate tracker.

No. Michelle Obama is not running for president in 2028. She has publicly ruled out a political career and is not counted among the 2028 contenders. She is constitutionally eligible but has shown no sign of seeking office.

No. Joe Biden is not running in 2028. He stepped aside during the 2024 race and has given no indication of a 2028 campaign. He would be 86 years old at the January 2029 inauguration.

It is unlikely. Bernie Sanders, the Vermont senator and two-time presidential candidate, has not declared a 2028 run and would be 87 years old at the January 2029 inauguration. He is tracked as a possible but far-from-certain 2028 candidate.

There is no indication Elizabeth Warren is running in 2028. She ran for the Democratic nomination in 2020 and has not signaled a return to national candidacy. She is constitutionally eligible but is not counted among the 2028 contenders as of mid-2026.

No. Oprah Winfrey is not running for president in 2028. She has not formed a campaign, filed with the FEC, or indicated she intends to seek office. She is constitutionally eligible but has consistently declined to run, and there is no sign that is changing for 2028.

Gavin Newsom is widely considered a likely 2028 Democratic candidate. He has not formally declared but leads Democratic prediction markets and has said he will seriously decide after the 2026 midterms. He is constitutionally eligible and is the most-watched Democrat in the forming field as of mid-2026.

Kamala Harris has publicly said she is thinking about a 2028 run. She is tracked as a likely candidate, leads most recent national Democratic primary polls, and is constitutionally eligible. She has not formally declared or filed with the FEC as of mid-2026.

Pete Buttigieg is widely expected to run for president in 2028. He has not formally declared but has strongly hinted at a campaign, led some early primary polls, and is tracked as a likely candidate. He is constitutionally eligible.

JD Vance, the sitting Vice President of the United States, is the clear Republican frontrunner for 2028. He has not formally declared but leads every major GOP primary poll and prediction market, and made an early visit to Iowa in 2026. He is constitutionally eligible.

Josh Shapiro is tracked as a likely 2028 Democratic candidate. The Pennsylvania governor has said he wants to be 'part of that conversation' about the party's future, has appeared on the early national circuit, and polls in the top tier of the Democratic field. He has not formally declared or filed with the FEC as of mid-2026.

Mark Kelly has publicly said he is undecided about a 2028 presidential run. The Arizona senator and former astronaut confirmed in April 2026 that a bid is under active consideration. He is tracked as a possible candidate and is constitutionally eligible.

Andy Beshear is openly weighing a 2028 presidential run but has said he will not decide until his Kentucky governorship ends in late 2027. As the 2026 chair of the Democratic Governors Association he has stepped up national travel. He is tracked as a possible candidate and is constitutionally eligible.

Marco Rubio is tracked as a likely 2028 Republican candidate. The Secretary of State and former 2016 presidential candidate has been named by President Trump alongside JD Vance as one of his two most likely successors. He consistently runs second to Vance in GOP primary polls. He has not formally declared or filed with the FEC as of mid-2026.

Ron DeSantis has said he is open to running for president in 2028. The term-limited Florida governor and 2024 Republican primary candidate told the Milken Institute Global Conference in May 2026 that he sees 'a lot of runway' for a presidential run. He is tracked as a likely Republican candidate and is constitutionally eligible.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is tracked as a likely 2028 Democratic candidate. She has not formally declared but quietly launched a national organizing tour in May 2026, with aides building a schedule to test her appeal outside her New York base. She is constitutionally eligible - she will be 39 at the January 2029 inauguration, meeting the 35-year minimum.

No. Donald Trump cannot run for president in 2028. Having been elected president in 2016 and again in 2024, he has reached the two-term limit set by the 22nd Amendment and is constitutionally ineligible for another presidential term. He is the sitting president through January 20, 2029.

Cory Booker has not ruled out a 2028 presidential run. The New Jersey senator told NBC's Meet the Press in March 2026 that he is 'definitely not ruling it out,' while also running for Senate re-election in 2026. He is tracked as a possible candidate and is constitutionally eligible.

Donald Trump Jr. is tracked as a possible 2028 Republican candidate. His name surfaces frequently in GOP 2028 speculation, and he appears in several early Republican primary polls. However, he has publicly downplayed his own interest in running, and no formal campaign or FEC filing has been made as of mid-2026.

Gretchen Whitmer's 2028 intentions are genuinely ambiguous. In May 2026 the Michigan governor said 'I will not be one of them in 2028,' then walked it back hours later, saying 'I guess I should know better to never say never.' She is tracked as a possible candidate and is constitutionally eligible.

J.B. Pritzker has not ruled out a 2028 presidential run. The Illinois governor is running for re-election in 2026 and has signaled he will be deeply involved in the 2028 cycle. He is tracked as a possible candidate, registers in the low-to-mid single digits in early Democratic primary polls, and is constitutionally eligible.

Ro Khanna is openly weighing a 2028 presidential run and says he will decide after the November 2026 midterms. The California congressman teased a bid at the National Action Network convention in April 2026 and told CNBC in May 2026 'I'm going to consider it after the midterms.' He is tracked as a possible candidate and is constitutionally eligible.

Wes Moore has not closed the door on a 2028 presidential run, but his stated focus is winning re-election as governor of Maryland in 2026. He has described his posture toward national office as 'hungry but not thirsty.' He is tracked as a possible candidate and is constitutionally eligible.

Ted Cruz has said he expects to run for president again 'at some point' and has been reported to be weighing a 2028 campaign. The Texas senator and 2016 Republican runner-up is tracked as a possible candidate. He polls in the low single digits in early 2028 GOP primary surveys, which JD Vance leads.

Nikki Haley has not announced a 2028 presidential campaign, but as the runner-up for the 2024 Republican nomination she is tracked as a possible candidate. The former South Carolina governor and U.N. ambassador polls in the low single digits in early 2028 GOP primary surveys, which JD Vance leads.

Vivek Ramaswamy is currently running for governor of Ohio, not president. He won the May 2026 Republican primary for Ohio governor and faces Democrat Amy Acton in November 2026. The 2024 presidential candidate remains a name in 2028 speculation and is tracked as a possible candidate, but his immediate campaign is a state race.

Tim Walz has not announced a 2028 presidential campaign. The Minnesota governor and 2024 Democratic vice-presidential nominee is tracked as a possible candidate for 2028 but has made no formal move toward the race as of mid-2026.

Amy Klobuchar has not announced a 2028 presidential campaign. The Minnesota senator and 2020 presidential candidate is tracked as a possible 2028 contender - her name appears in occasional speculation - but she has made no formal move toward the race as of mid-2026.

No. Jon Ossoff has explicitly ruled out a 2028 presidential run. The Georgia senator stated in June 2026 that he is 'not running for president in 2028,' calling the speculation a 'fantasy football dimension,' and said his focus is his Georgia Senate reelection.

Josh Hawley has not formally declared a 2028 presidential campaign, but the Missouri senator has been actively positioning. Through 2026 he has broken with the Trump White House on war powers, Medicaid, and several nominees in ways widely read as laying groundwork for a potential bid. He is tracked as a possible Republican candidate and is constitutionally eligible.

Brian Kemp has not declared a 2028 presidential campaign, but the term-limited Georgia governor has deliberately preserved his options. He passed on a 2026 Senate race, a decision widely read as keeping the door open for a national run. He is tracked as a possible candidate in the traditional-conservative lane of the Republican primary and is constitutionally eligible.

Jared Polis has not announced a 2028 presidential campaign. The Colorado governor is term-limited and leaves office in January 2027, freeing him to consider a national run. He is tracked as a possible Democratic candidate and is constitutionally eligible.

Rand Paul has said he is considering a 2028 presidential run. The Kentucky senator and 2016 Republican presidential candidate has explicitly left open the door to another bid. As of mid-2026 he has not formally declared or filed with the FEC, but he is tracked as a possible candidate.

Tim Scott has not announced a 2028 presidential campaign. The South Carolina senator ran for the 2024 Republican nomination, dropping out in November 2023. He is tracked as a possible 2028 contender based on his national fundraising network, optimistic message, and his appearance on the 2024 VP shortlist.

Sarah Huckabee Sanders has not announced a 2028 presidential campaign. The Arkansas governor is tracked as a possible future national contender based on her high national profile as former White House press secretary and her strong electoral record in Arkansas. As of mid-2026 she has made no formal moves toward a 2028 presidential run.

Tom Cotton has not announced a 2028 presidential campaign. The Arkansas senator is tracked as a possible candidate based on his high national profile as a defense hawk and his frequent mentions in 2028 speculation. As of mid-2026 he has not declared, filed with the FEC, or made public statements about a run.

Glenn Youngkin has not announced a 2028 presidential campaign. The former Virginia governor left office in January 2026 after one term - Virginia law bars governors from serving consecutive terms - and is tracked as a possible candidate based on his profile as a business-aligned Republican who won a competitive swing state in 2021.

Kristi Noem has not announced a 2028 presidential campaign. The former South Dakota governor served as Secretary of Homeland Security in 2025-2026 and is tracked as a possible candidate based on her high national profile and her base among conservative Republican voters.

Tulsi Gabbard has not announced a 2028 presidential campaign. The former Hawaii congresswoman and outgoing Director of National Intelligence is tracked as a possible Republican candidate following her 2026 departure from the Trump administration.

Rahm Emanuel has not declared a 2028 presidential campaign but is among the most active Democratic 2028 signalers. He has said publicly he is thinking about a run and has toured early-primary states, though he says he will not decide until after the 2026 midterms.

Greg Abbott is not pursuing a 2028 presidential campaign. The Texas governor has dismissed 2028 presidential speculation and is focused on winning re-election as governor of Texas in November 2026.

Raphael Warnock has not announced a 2028 presidential campaign. The Georgia senator is tracked as a possible candidate based on his profile as a two-time winner in a key battleground state and one of the most prominent Democratic voices in the country.

Ruben Gallego has not announced a 2028 presidential campaign. The Arizona senator and Marine veteran is tracked as a possible candidate based on his 2024 Senate victory in a key swing state and his rising national profile within the Democratic Party.

Elissa Slotkin has not announced a 2028 presidential campaign. The Michigan senator and former CIA officer is tracked as a possible candidate based on her swing-state Senate seat, her national-security background, and the high-profile national speaking roles she has been given within the Democratic Party.

Pete Hegseth has not announced a 2028 presidential campaign and has expressed no interest in running. The U.S. Secretary of Defense and former television host is occasionally floated in media speculation based on his high administration profile, but he has taken no formal campaign steps.

Phil Murphy has not ruled out a 2028 presidential run but openly plays it down. The former two-term New Jersey governor said in December 2025 that he 'wouldn't put a lot of money on that,' and he registers near zero in early Democratic primary polls, making him a long shot.

Byron Donalds has not announced a 2028 presidential campaign. The Florida congressman and close Trump ally is currently focused on the 2026 Florida governor's race, where he is the Trump-endorsed frontrunner. His rising national profile keeps his name in occasional 2028 conversations.

Elise Stefanik has not announced a 2028 presidential campaign. The senior House Republican and close Trump ally is sometimes mentioned among the party's younger national prospects, but she has taken no formal 2028 campaign steps.

No. Ben Shapiro has not declared a 2028 presidential campaign, has not filed with the FEC as a candidate, and is not tracked among the serious 2028 contenders. Media commentary and speculation are not a campaign.

No decision has been announced. Vivek Ramaswamy's 2028 presidential path depends heavily on the outcome of his November 2026 Ohio governor's race - which he won the Republican primary for in May 2026, facing Democrat Amy Acton that fall. A governor win would give him an executive credential and a national platform for a 2028 bid; a loss would complicate any presidential campaign. He has made no 2028 presidential announcement and has not filed with the FEC.

No decision has been announced. Gavin Newsom has said he will decide seriously after the November 2026 midterms. His California governorship ends in January 2027 under term limits, which would free him to campaign full-time. The biggest variable in his 2028 calculus is the federal investigation he disclosed in June 2026 - he called it political retaliation for considering a presidential run. He has made no formal announcement and has not filed with the FEC.

No decision has been announced. Kamala Harris has said she is thinking about a 2028 run -- her clearest public signal came at the National Action Network convention in April 2026, when she said 'I might. I'm thinking about it.' She leads most recent national Democratic primary polls and is constitutionally eligible. She has made no formal announcement and has not filed with the FEC.

No decision has been announced. Pete Buttigieg has signaled strong interest in a 2028 presidential run -- at the National Action Network convention on April 10, 2026, he told Rev. Al Sharpton 'You save me a seat. I'll be there' when asked about running for president. He led two May 2026 national Democratic primary surveys (Emerson College and Overton Insights) before falling back in more recent June 2026 polls. He holds no current office -- his tenure as Transportation Secretary ended in January 2025 -- and has made no formal announcement or FEC filing.

No formal announcement has been made, but JD Vance is the overwhelming Republican frontrunner for 2028. As the sitting Vice President, he has followed the standard pattern of not formally declaring -- in May 2026 he said 'I'm not a potential future candidate. I'm a vice president, and I really like my job' -- while his actions tell a different story: an early trip to Iowa in 2026 and dominant polling across every major GOP primary survey. He has not filed with the FEC as a presidential candidate.

No formal announcement has been made, but Josh Shapiro is widely considered one of the most likely Democratic presidential candidates for 2028. The Pennsylvania governor has said he wants to be 'part of that conversation' and has taken active steps consistent with a run -- most notably a 30-to-40-minute meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in June 2026, on the sidelines of a US-Canada summit in Toronto, which news reports linked to 2028 presidential positioning. He has not filed with the FEC as a presidential candidate.

No formal announcement has been made, but Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is tracked as a likely 2028 Democratic candidate -- the highest confidence level short of a formal declaration. In May 2026, reporting indicated she had quietly launched a national organizing tour across multiple states, with aides building a schedule to test her 2028 appeal outside her progressive New York base. She polls consistently in the high single digits to low double digits in national Democratic primary surveys and has not filed with the Federal Election Commission as a presidential candidate.

No formal announcement has been made, and Gretchen Whitmer's intentions are genuinely ambiguous. The Michigan governor said she 'will not be one of them in 2028' in a May 2026 interview, then walked it back the same day with 'I guess I should know better to never say never.' She is tracked as a possible candidate -- not a likely one. Her strategic appeal rests on Michigan (15 electoral votes, Tossup), one of the most closely contested states on the 2028 electoral map.

No formal announcement has been made. Marco Rubio is the sitting U.S. Secretary of State and the clear second-place candidate in every 2028 Republican primary poll taken in mid-2026. On May 12, 2026, President Trump named him alongside JD Vance as one of two most likely successors at the White House. He has not filed with the Federal Election Commission as a presidential candidate.

No formal announcement has been made, but Ron DeSantis is tracked as a likely 2028 Republican candidate. At the Milken Institute Global Conference on May 4, 2026, he said he is in his mid-40s and sees 'a lot of runway' for a run in 2028 or beyond -- his clearest public signal yet. His term as Florida governor ended in January 2027, leaving him free to campaign full time. He consistently places third in 2028 Republican primary polling, behind JD Vance and Marco Rubio, and has not filed with the Federal Election Commission as a presidential candidate.

No formal decision has been announced. Cory Booker told NBC's Meet the Press on March 29, 2026, that he is 'definitely not ruling it out,' while also running for Senate re-election in New Jersey in 2026. He registers in the low-to-mid single digits in early 2028 Democratic primary polls and is tracked as a possible candidate. His 2026 Senate race is widely viewed as the first major variable: a decisive win maintains his national platform; a loss in a state classified Safe Democratic would likely end any presidential ambitions for the cycle.

No formal decision has been announced. Andy Beshear acknowledged in a CNN interview on February 19, 2026, that he is considering a 2028 presidential run but said he will not decide until after his Kentucky governor's term ends in late 2027. He appears in nine mid-2026 Democratic primary surveys, typically polling 2 to 4 percent with an outlier of 8.5 percent in one Emerson College poll. He serves as the 2026 chair of the Democratic Governors Association, bringing him into sustained national travel consistent with early campaign groundwork. He is tracked as a possible candidate and is constitutionally eligible.

No formal decision has been announced. Nikki Haley has given no public signal of 2028 presidential intent as of mid-2026, and has not filed with the Federal Election Commission as a candidate. She polls in the low single digits in eight mid-2026 Republican primary surveys, ranging from 2 to 4.6 percent, trailing Vice President JD Vance by a wide margin. Her status as the 2024 Republican runner-up keeps her on every serious list of potential 2028 contenders. She is constitutionally eligible and has been out of office since early 2019, which removes the office-holder timing conflict that complicates the paths of Vance and Rubio.

No formal decision has been announced. Mark Kelly said 'I will make a decision about that, and so far I'm undecided' at the Semafor World Economy conference in Washington on April 15, 2026. He appears in eight mid-2026 Democratic primary surveys, polling 3 to 9 percent. He serves as U.S. senator from Arizona, a Tossup battleground with 11 electoral votes, giving him a competitive-state track record that Democrats prize in presidential candidates. He is constitutionally eligible.

No formal decision has been announced. Ted Cruz, the 2016 Republican runner-up and Texas senator, has said he expects to seek the presidency again 'at some point' and has been reported to be weighing a 2028 campaign. He appears in 11 mid-2026 Republican primary surveys, polling between 0.7 and 5 percent. His Senate term, won in November 2024, runs through January 2031 and is not on the 2028 Senate ballot, placing no timing conflict on a simultaneous presidential run. He is constitutionally eligible under the prevailing view, though his Calgary birth continues to draw the same natural-born citizen questions raised during his 2016 campaign.

No formal decision has been announced. J.B. Pritzker has not ruled out a 2028 presidential run and has signaled he will be deeply involved in the 2028 cycle. The Illinois governor is running for re-election in 2026 and his self-funding capacity -- he is one of the wealthiest elected officials in the country as heir to the Hyatt Hotels fortune -- means he could enter the race on his own timeline. He appears in ten of eleven mid-2026 Democratic primary surveys, typically polling 1 to 5 percent with a high of 7 percent in one Harvard-Harris poll. He is constitutionally eligible.

No formal announcement has been made. Ro Khanna has shifted from coy to openly considering a 2028 presidential bid and has given one of the most specific decision timelines of any potential candidate: he will consider a run after the November 2026 midterm elections. The California congressman is tracked as a possible candidate. He has not appeared as a named choice in any mid-2026 national Democratic primary poll. He is constitutionally eligible.

No decision has been announced. Donald Trump Jr. has publicly downplayed his own interest in a 2028 presidential run, though his name surfaces frequently in Republican speculation and he registers in seven mid-2026 GOP primary surveys -- ranging from 6 percent to 21 percent depending on the pollster. He has not filed with the FEC or set a public decision timeline. His path to the nomination would require overcoming Vice President JD Vance, who leads every mid-2026 GOP poll by a wide margin, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who holds consistent second place.

No formal decision has been announced. Wes Moore has not ruled out a 2028 presidential run and has described his posture toward national office as 'hungry but not thirsty' -- interested in the future without chasing it. The Maryland governor is focused on winning re-election in 2026; a national decision would follow that result. He has not appeared as a named choice in any mid-2026 Democratic primary survey. He is constitutionally eligible.

Chris Murphy has not announced a 2028 presidential campaign. The Connecticut senator declined to confirm 2028 ambitions in May 2026, saying he would be 'foolish to spend much time on it given there is no guarantee of an election in 2028.' He is tracked as a possible candidate based on his rising national profile on gun safety, foreign policy, and democratic institutions.

Dan Greaney has formally declared a 2028 presidential campaign and filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission in May 2026, making him one of the few candidates with an active FEC registration this early in the cycle. He is a television writer running as a self-described Lincoln-and-Roosevelt Republican. He is a long-shot candidate with no polling presence.

Gregory Bovino has not filed with the Federal Election Commission and has not formally declared a 2028 presidential campaign. The former U.S. Border Patrol commander-at-large said in June 2026 that 'all options are on the table' if running for president is what it takes to advance mass deportations. He is tracked as a possible candidate; a supporter-built Bovino2028 website and exploratory language drew national coverage in June 2026.

No formal decision has been announced. Rand Paul, the Kentucky senator and 2016 Republican presidential candidate, has said a 2028 run is under consideration. He does not appear as a named choice in any mid-2026 Republican primary survey. His Senate seat is on the November 2028 ballot -- the same dual-campaign timing constraint he faced in 2016 -- meaning a simultaneous presidential and Senate run would require a structural solution similar to the state GOP caucus he arranged that year. He is constitutionally eligible.

No formal decision has been announced. Josh Hawley, the Missouri senator, was reported by Axios in January 2026 to be laying groundwork for a possible 2028 bid through a series of breaks with the Trump White House on war powers, Medicaid, and nominees. He does not appear as a named choice in any mid-2026 Republican primary survey. Missouri is a Safe Republican state (10 electoral votes), meaning a Hawley presidential ticket would need the vice-presidential pick to supply battleground-state credibility. He is constitutionally eligible.

No formal decision has been announced. Brian Kemp, the term-limited Georgia governor, passed on a 2026 Senate race -- a move widely read as preserving his 2028 presidential options. He does not appear as a named choice in any mid-2026 Republican primary survey. Georgia carries 16 electoral votes and is classified as a Tossup, giving a Kemp candidacy a structural argument few rivals can match. He is constitutionally eligible.

No formal decision has been announced. Tim Walz, the Minnesota governor and 2024 Democratic vice-presidential nominee, is tracked as a possible candidate for 2028 but has made no formal move toward the race as of mid-2026. He does not appear as a named choice in any mid-2026 Democratic primary survey. Minnesota carries 10 electoral votes and is classified Lean Democratic -- not a battleground -- so a Walz presidential ticket would need the vice-presidential pick to supply swing-state credibility. He is constitutionally eligible.

No formal decision has been announced. Amy Klobuchar, the Minnesota senator and 2020 Democratic presidential candidate, has made no public move toward a 2028 run as of mid-2026. She does not appear as a named choice in any mid-2026 Democratic primary survey. Minnesota carries 10 electoral votes and is classified Lean Democratic -- not a battleground -- so a Klobuchar presidential ticket would need the vice-presidential pick to supply swing-state credibility. She is constitutionally eligible.

No formal decision has been announced. Rahm Emanuel -- the former Chicago mayor, Obama White House chief of staff, and U.S. Ambassador to Japan -- is among the most active 2028 Democratic signalers, having said in May 2026 that he is thinking about a run. He does not appear as a named choice in any mid-2026 Democratic primary survey. Illinois carries 19 electoral votes and is classified Safe Democratic -- not a battleground -- so an Emanuel presidential ticket would need the vice-presidential pick to supply swing-state credibility. He is constitutionally eligible.

No formal decision has been announced. Raphael Warnock -- the Georgia senator, senior pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church, and two-time statewide winner in a key battleground -- has not declared a 2028 presidential campaign or filed with the Federal Election Commission. His Senate seat is on the November 2028 ballot, creating a dual-campaign timing decision similar to the one facing Rand Paul of Kentucky. Georgia carries 16 electoral votes and is classified as a Tossup, making Warnock one of the few possible Democratic candidates whose home state represents an actual presidential battleground rather than a safe-side anchor. He does not appear in any mid-2026 Democratic primary poll. He is constitutionally eligible.

No formal decision has been announced. Tim Scott -- the South Carolina senator, 2024 presidential candidate, and reported 2024 VP-shortlist pick -- has not declared a 2028 presidential campaign or filed with the Federal Election Commission. His Senate seat is on the November 2028 ballot, creating a dual-campaign timing decision similar to the one Rand Paul of Kentucky navigated in 2016. A pairing with Nikki Haley -- the other major 2024 Republican presidential candidate from South Carolina -- would trigger the 12th Amendment same-state constraint, putting South Carolina's 9 electoral votes at risk unless one candidate changed residency. He does not appear in any mid-2026 Republican primary poll. He is constitutionally eligible.

No formal decision has been announced. Jared Polis -- the Colorado governor, technology entrepreneur, and business-friendly Democrat -- said at a May 2026 Colorado Sun event that he has 'no plans to run for anything,' the clearest public signal as of mid-2026 against a presidential bid. He is term-limited and leaves office in January 2027, a departure that has kept his name in 2028 Democratic speculation. He has not declared a campaign or filed with the Federal Election Commission. Colorado carries 10 Safe Democratic electoral votes, providing no swing-state leverage on the presidential ticket. He does not appear in any mid-2026 Democratic primary poll. He is constitutionally eligible.

No formal decision has been announced. Elissa Slotkin -- the Michigan senator, former CIA officer, and 2024 swing-state Senate winner -- has not declared a 2028 presidential campaign or filed with the Federal Election Commission. Michigan carries 15 electoral votes and is classified as a Tossup battleground, making Slotkin one of the few possible Democratic candidates whose home state represents an actual presidential battlefield rather than a safe-side anchor. Her Senate seat, won in 2024, is on the November 2030 ballot -- not the November 2028 ballot -- so she faces no dual-campaign timing decision. She does not appear in any mid-2026 Democratic primary poll. She is constitutionally eligible.

No formal decision has been announced. Ruben Gallego -- the Arizona senator, Marine veteran, and winner of the 2024 Senate race in a key presidential battleground -- has not declared a 2028 presidential campaign or filed with the Federal Election Commission. Arizona carries 11 electoral votes and is classified as a Tossup, having voted Republican in 2016, Democratic in 2020, and Republican in 2024 with a margin of Trump plus 5.5 points. Gallego's 2024 Senate win in Arizona makes him one of the few possible Democratic candidates with a demonstrated statewide electability record in a genuine presidential battleground. His Senate seat, won in November 2024, is on the November 2030 ballot -- not the November 2028 ballot -- so he faces no dual-campaign timing decision. He does not appear in any mid-2026 Democratic primary poll. He is constitutionally eligible.

Tom Cotton, the U.S. senator from Arkansas, is tracked as a possible 2028 Republican presidential candidate. He has not declared a 2028 presidential campaign, filed with the Federal Election Commission, or made public statements about a run. His most immediate political focus as of mid-2026 is his Arkansas Senate re-election campaign in the November 2026 general election. He is constitutionally eligible for the presidency.

Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the governor of Arkansas, is tracked as a possible 2028 Republican presidential candidate. She has not declared a 2028 presidential campaign, filed with the Federal Election Commission, or made public statements about a run. As Arkansas governor she is eligible to seek re-election in November 2026, and her most immediate political horizon involves the state executive office she currently holds. She is constitutionally eligible for the presidency.

Glenn Youngkin, the former governor of Virginia, is tracked as a possible 2028 Republican presidential candidate. He has not declared a campaign, filed with the Federal Election Commission, or made public statements about a presidential run. Term-limited under Virginia's constitution, he left the governorship in January 2026 as a political free agent. He is constitutionally eligible for the presidency.

Byron Donalds, the Florida congressman and Trump-endorsed frontrunner in the 2026 Florida governor's race, is tracked as a conditional 2028 Republican presidential candidate. His near-term path runs through the Florida statehouse before any presidential run. He has taken no formal 2028 campaign steps, has not filed with the FEC, and does not appear in any mid-2026 Republican primary poll.

Kristi Noem, the former South Dakota governor and former Secretary of Homeland Security, is tracked as a possible 2028 Republican presidential candidate. She has not declared a campaign, filed with the Federal Election Commission, or made public statements about a presidential run. She departed the Trump administration in March 2026 and is constitutionally eligible for the presidency.

Elise Stefanik, a U.S. Representative from New York and senior House Republican leader, is tracked as a possible 2028 Republican presidential candidate. She has not declared a 2028 presidential campaign, filed with the Federal Election Commission, or made public statements about a presidential run. She is constitutionally eligible for the presidency.

Tulsi Gabbard is tracked as a possible 2028 Republican presidential candidate. She has not declared a campaign, filed with the Federal Election Commission, or made public statements about a 2028 presidential run. Her 2026 departure from the Trump administration's Director of National Intelligence role is the primary catalyst for 2028 speculation.

Phil Murphy is tracked as a possible but long-shot 2028 Democratic presidential candidate. The former two-term New Jersey governor has not ruled out a run but openly downplays the idea, saying in December 2025 that he 'wouldn't put a lot of money on that.' He has not filed with the Federal Election Commission or taken any formal campaign steps, and he registers near zero in early Democratic primary polls.