When do 2028 presidential campaigns start?

There is no legal date when campaigns 'start.' A person becomes an official candidate under Federal Election Commission rules when they raise or spend more than $5,000 toward a presidential campaign or when they publicly announce their candidacy - whichever comes first. As of June 2026, only a handful of little-known long-shot candidates have filed with the FEC; no major-party frontrunner has formally declared.

Historically, serious presidential contenders begin exploratory activity 18-30 months before Election Day. For 2028, that window points to 2026-early 2027 as the period when potential candidates typically start hiring staff, testing messages, and visiting early primary states.

Formal announcement speeches typically come 12-18 months before the first primary vote, which for 2028 suggests announcements in the second half of 2026 through 2027.

The political environment is unusually unsettled as of mid-2026 because the incumbent party and the out-party field are both in flux. Major candidates often delay announcements until rivals' intentions are clearer. Follow FEC filings at fec.gov for the first legal signals of candidacy.