When do 2028 presidential campaigns start?
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.
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 July 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.
Related questions
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Related explainers
A person becomes an official presidential candidate by filing with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) once they raise or spend more than $5,000, or by making a public declaration of candidacy.
Two deadlines matter. Federal: a candidate must register with the FEC within 15 days of raising or spending more than $5,000 - which can happen at any time. State: each state sets its own primary filing deadline, and most will fall between late 2027 and the summer of 2028. There is no single nationwide deadline, and the official 2028 dates are not finalized yet.
The 2028 primary calendar is not finalized. Based on historical patterns, primaries and caucuses are expected to begin in January or February 2028, with most states voting by June.
Presidential nominees are chosen by their party's national convention, based on delegates won in state primaries and caucuses. The person who wins a majority of delegates becomes the official nominee.
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