Is Bernie Sanders running for president in 2028?
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.
Bernie Sanders, the independent Vermont senator, ran for the Democratic nomination in 2016 and 2020. As of mid-2026 he has not signaled a 2028 campaign, and his age makes another run widely seen as unlikely.
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. Even his supporters acknowledge this as the most significant practical barrier to a third campaign.
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 | The 2028 Democratic field
Related questions
How old would Bernie Sanders be in 2028?
Has Sanders said he will run in 2028?
Is Bernie Sanders eligible to run for president in 2028?
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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.
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