When is the next presidential election after 2028?
Tuesday, November 2, 2032. U.S. presidential elections are held every four years, so the 2028 election is followed by the 2032 election. The date is fixed by federal law (3 U.S.C. Section 1) as the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November, and the winner would be inaugurated on January 20, 2033.
Every U.S. presidential election through 2048
Presidential elections recur every four years on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November.
| Year | Election Day | Inauguration |
|---|---|---|
| 2028 | Tuesday, November 7, 2028 The next presidential election - an open contest. | January 20, 2029 |
| 2032 | Tuesday, November 2, 2032 The next presidential election AFTER 2028. | January 20, 2033 |
| 2036 | Tuesday, November 4, 2036 Two presidential cycles after 2028. | January 20, 2037 |
| 2040 | Tuesday, November 6, 2040 | January 20, 2041 |
| 2044 | Tuesday, November 8, 2044 | January 20, 2045 |
| 2048 | Tuesday, November 3, 2048 | January 20, 2049 |
Source: 3 U.S.C. Section 1 for Election Day; 20th Amendment for Inauguration Day. Dates are fixed by federal law, not chosen by any party or candidate. Last reviewed: .
Why U.S. presidential elections happen every four years
The four-year gap is written into the Constitution and cannot be changed by ordinary law:
- A four-year term. Article II, Section 1 sets the president's term of office at four years. Because the term is fixed, the election that fills it recurs every four years.
- Fixed start and end dates. The 20th Amendment ends each term at noon on January 20 and begins the next one at the same moment, keeping the cycle exactly aligned from 2029 to 2033 to 2037 and onward.
- A single national Election Day. Federal law (3 U.S.C. Section 1), building on the Presidential Election Day Act of 1845, fixes Election Day as the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November of each presidential year.
- Midterms fill the gap. Every even year also holds elections for the House (all 435 seats) and a third of the Senate. The even years alternate between presidential elections (2028, 2032, 2036) and midterm elections (2026, 2030, 2034).
So after the 2028 presidential election on November 7, 2028, the next one is exactly four years later: November 2, 2032.
Midterm elections between the presidential years
There is a major federal election every two years. The ones that fall between presidential races are the midterms - no presidential candidate is on the ballot, but control of Congress is at stake:
- 2026 midterms: Tuesday, November 3, 2026
- 2030 midterms: Tuesday, November 5, 2030
The 2026 midterms are widely treated as the unofficial starting gun for the 2028 presidential race, since most contenders have said they will decide on a run only afterward.
Next presidential election: FAQ
When is the next presidential election after 2028?
When is the very next U.S. presidential election?
How often are presidential elections held?
Is there any federal election between 2028 and 2032?
When would the winner of the 2032 election be inaugurated?
Who can run in 2032?
Why is Election Day always in early November?
More 2028 election resources
Date, live countdown, and the full 2028 key-dates calendar from primaries to inauguration.
The full candidate tracker with declared, likely, and possible status labels.
The Article II and 22nd Amendment rules on who is eligible to run and win.
State-by-state primary and caucus schedule as the 2028 calendar firms up.
Prediction-market odds for who will win the 2028 presidency, sourced and dated.
Clear answers to every common question about how 2028 works.