Is Tim Scott running for president in 2028?

Tim Scott, the U.S. Senator from South Carolina, is tracked as a possible 2028 Republican presidential candidate. He ran for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, entering the race in May 2023 and running for six months before suspending his campaign on November 12, 2023, before any votes were cast. His 2024 run demonstrated real fundraising strength and established a national operation, giving him assets that could be reactivated for 2028.

Scott has not announced a 2028 campaign, filed with the Federal Election Commission, or signaled formal interest in the race. His name remains in 2028 conversations in part because he was reported to have been on the shortlist of potential vice-presidential picks before JD Vance was selected for the 2024 ticket. His optimistic, forward-looking message and his record as the only Black Republican senator give him a distinctive profile in the GOP field.

Scott is constitutionally eligible to run for president. He is a natural-born U.S. citizen, is 60 years old as of mid-2026 - well above the constitutional minimum of 35 - and would be 63 years old on Inauguration Day, January 20, 2029. He meets the 14-year U.S. residency requirement. No legal bar prevents a 2028 candidacy.

The 2028 Republican field is led by JD Vance, the sitting vice president, who leads in prediction markets and early GOP primary polls. Scott's lane in a 2028 primary would be the mainstream, optimistic-conservative wing, similar to his 2024 pitch. Whether he runs a second time would depend on the shape of the field once the 2026 midterms are settled and serious 2028 activity begins. No major Republican candidate has formally declared as of mid-2026.