Is Bernie Sanders running for president in 2028?
Unlikely. In June 2026, asked at the National Press Club whether he might run again, Sanders said of a 2028 presidential bid, 'I suspect that's not going to happen,' pointing to his age. He would be 87 years old on Inauguration Day, January 20, 2029 -- older than any U.S. president has ever served. He has not filed with the FEC or declared a candidacy.
Bernie Sanders, the independent Vermont senator, ran for the Democratic nomination in 2016 and 2020. In June 2026, asked at the National Press Club whether he might seek the presidency again, Sanders said of a 2028 bid, 'I suspect that's not going to happen,' pointing to his age. He has not filed with the FEC or taken formal 2028 campaign steps as of mid-2026.
Sanders would be 87 years old at the January 20, 2029 inauguration -- older than any president has ever served. He was born September 8, 1941. His own June 2026 statement and his age are the two defining factors that make a third presidential campaign widely seen as very unlikely.
He is not counted among the leading 2028 Democratic contenders in prediction markets or polling, though he retains a loyal progressive base that could factor into who the party nominates. If he does not run himself, his endorsement will matter in a crowded primary.
The leading 2028 Democrats in prediction markets and polling as of mid-2026 are Gavin Newsom, Pete Buttigieg, Kamala Harris, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Sanders remains on the tracker as possible but is counted as a long shot by most analysts.
Related: Bernie Sanders - full profile | Will Bernie Sanders run for president in 2028? | The 2028 Democratic field | Everything Bernie Sanders has said about 2028
Related questions
How old would Bernie Sanders be in 2028?
Has Bernie Sanders said he will run in 2028?
Is Bernie Sanders eligible to run for president in 2028?
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Related explainers
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.
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.
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.
See the live 2028 candidate trackerAll 2028 election questionsAre they running? -- all 2028 candidates