Is Jared Polis running for president in 2028?

Jared Polis, the governor of Colorado, is tracked as a possible 2028 Democratic presidential candidate. He is term-limited and cannot run for governor again, with his final term ending in January 2027. His name appears in occasional 2028 speculation because his governorship's end leaves the presidency as one of a handful of plausible next steps for a politician of his profile, and his brand as a business-friendly, fiscally moderate Democrat fills a distinct lane in the party.

Polis has not declared a 2028 presidential campaign, filed with the Federal Election Commission, or made public statements signaling a run. He has not taken the visible steps that typically precede a serious presidential bid - such as hiring national campaign staff, visiting early primary states, or building a national fundraising operation. His inclusion in 2028 speculation is driven largely by his term limit and his well-known profile as a wealthy tech entrepreneur turned elected official.

Polis is constitutionally eligible to run for president. He is a natural-born U.S. citizen, born in Boulder, Colorado, and is 51 years old as of mid-2026 - well above the constitutional minimum of 35. He would be 53 years old on Inauguration Day, January 20, 2029, and meets the 14-year U.S. residency requirement. No legal bar prevents a 2028 candidacy.

The 2028 Democratic field as of mid-2026 is most active among candidates who have been more openly positioning: Kamala Harris, Gavin Newsom, Pete Buttigieg, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez lead in prediction markets and polls. Polis, with his fiscally pragmatic, pro-growth approach and his track record in a competitive Western state, would offer a distinct brand in the Democratic field if he ran. No major candidate has formally declared as of mid-2026.