2028 Republican candidates
The Republicans most likely to seek the presidency in 2028, led by the sitting vice president. The field is still forming.
Who is the Republican frontrunner for 2028?
Vice President JD Vance is the clear early Republican frontrunner, leading every recent 2028 primary poll - usually by double digits (roughly 29% to 47%) - as well as the betting markets. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is consistently second; one May 2026 Emerson College poll showed them within a point (36% to 35%), but most polls give Vance a wide lead. In September 2026 Rubio said he has "no plans at this time" to run in 2028. Ron DeSantis is further back. No Republican has formally declared, and Donald Trump is term-limited by the 22nd Amendment and cannot run again.
Republican candidates most likely to run in 2028
- JD Vance - Vice President of the United StatesThe clear early Republican frontrunner, at or near the top of every 2028 GOP primary poll in mid-2026.
- Ron DeSantis - Governor of FloridaBetween 6% and 9% in the six national Republican primary polls from August to mid-September 2026, behind JD Vance and Marco Rubio in all six and behind Donald Trump Jr. in four.
Compare them on 2028 odds, polls, and the Republican primary. The full field, including possible and long-shot names, is below.
Latest 2028 Republican primary polls
JD Vance leads the most recent survey at 38% (Big Data Poll, September 13-15, 2026).
| Poll | Dates | Vance | Rubio | Trump Jr. | DeSantis | Kennedy Jr. | Haley | Cruz |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Data Poll1,110 LV | September 13-15, 2026 | 38% | 16% | - | 8% | 6% | 6% | 4% |
| Focaldata662 LV | August 28 - September 2, 2026 | 43% | 21% | 7% | 9% | 4% | - | 4% |
| Bowling Green State University/YouGov499 LV | August 25 - September 1, 2026 | 44% | 21% | 8% | 7% | 2% | 1% | 3% |
| Quantus Insights473 LV | August 26-28, 2026 | 41% | 29% | 9% | 6% | - | - | - |
| McLaughlin & Associates433 LV | August 18-24, 2026 | 32% | 12% | 19% | 6% | - | 5% | 2% |
| Focaldata874 A | August 7-11, 2026 | 42% | 18% | 10% | 8% | 6% | - | 3% |
| Emerson College | July 19-20, 2026 | 39% | 38% | 5% | 5% | - | - | - |
| Echelon Insights1,004 LV | July 9-13, 2026 | 38% | 15% | 8% | 9% | 3% | - | 2% |
| Harvard-Harris1,776 RV | July 11-12, 2026 | 42% | 22% | 18% | - | 6% | 6% | - |
| Quantus Insights480 LV | July 3-7, 2026 | 42% | 26% | - | 9% | - | 3% | 4% |
| Zogby375 LV | July 1-4, 2026 | 51% | 13% | - | 13% | - | - | 5% |
| Focaldata727 LV | June 26-30, 2026 | 40% | 18% | 9% | 7% | 5% | - | 2% |
| Big Data Poll1,166 LV | June 26-28, 2026 | 37% | 18% | - | 8% | 7% | 4% | 5% |
| Daily Mail/JL Partners517 LV | June 24-26, 2026 | 51% | 15% | - | 9% | - | 2% | 6% |
| McLaughlin & Associates440 RV | June 17-23, 2026 | 35% | 15% | 14% | 5% | - | 3% | 3% |
| Echelon Insights418 LV | June 11-14, 2026 | 42% | 15% | 7% | 6% | 3% | - | 2% |
| Focaldata667 A | May 29 - June 1, 2026 | 37% | 18% | 10% | 9% | 5% | - | 3% |
| Harvard-Harris1,725 RV | May 29-31, 2026 | 45% | 21% | 21% | - | - | - | - |
| I&I/TIPP561 RV | May 26-28, 2026 | 29% | 12% | 19% | 6% | 4% | 2% | 3% |
| Big Data Poll1,148 LV | May 24-27, 2026 | 37.4% | 16.1% | - | 7.2% | 5.9% | 3.8% | 3.3% |
| Emerson College432 LV | May 24-25, 2026 | 35.5% | 34.6% | - | 5.4% | 3.1% | 4.6% | 0.7% |
| Overton Insights509 | May 16-20, 2026 | 39% | 32% | - | 9% | - | 4% | - |
| Daily Mail/JL Partners496 LV | May 15-19, 2026 | 47% | 18% | - | 9% | - | 3% | 4% |
| Echelon Insights418 LV | May 14-18, 2026 | 36% | 12% | 6% | 12% | 2% | - | 2% |
Leading name per poll in bold. Full detail on the Republican primary polls page. Percentages as reported by each pollster.
Republican candidates formally in the 2028 race
Other Republican names who could run in 2028
Term-limited Georgia governor seen as a leading traditional-conservative option. He passed on a 2026 Senate race, fueling 2028 speculation.
A Florida congressman and close Trump ally who won the Republican primary for Florida governor on August 18, 2026 and faces Democrat David Jolly in November. His rising profile keeps his name in occasional 2028 conversations.
An influential party fundraiser and the president's eldest son, whose name surfaces in 2028 speculation.
A former House Republican Conference chair and prominent Trump ally who ended her bid for New York governor in December 2025 and is not seeking re-election to the House. She is sometimes mentioned among the party's younger national prospects.
A former private-equity executive who served one term as Virginia governor and has long been mentioned as a potential national candidate.
A long-serving Texas governor with a large war chest who is seeking a record fourth term in 2026. He said in August 2025 that he will run for governor again and dismissed 2028 talk, and in August 2026 his campaign answered "No" when asked about 2028 interest.
A former U.S. Border Patrol commander who became a viral figure as a public face of the 2025-26 immigration crackdown. In June 2026 a supporter-built 'Bovino2028' website and a self-described exploratory committee drew national headlines; Bovino said a 2028 run is 'on the table' if it advances mass deportations.
A former South Dakota governor who served as Homeland Security secretary in 2025-2026 and has been U.S. special envoy for the Shield of the Americas since March 2026, with a national profile that keeps her in future-contender lists.
Libertarian-leaning Kentucky senator and former 2016 candidate who has said another bid is under consideration.
Arkansas governor and former White House press secretary often mentioned as a future national contender, with no formal moves yet.
The 2016 runner-up and Texas senator has said he expects to seek the presidency again and was reported to be weighing a campaign.
A South Carolina senator and 2024 presidential candidate with a strong fundraising network and an optimistic message.
An Army veteran and Arkansas senator known for a hawkish foreign policy, frequently listed among possible future contenders.
Former Democrat turned Republican and Trump administration official whose 2026 departure from the DNI role has fueled 2028 talk.
A biotech entrepreneur and 2024 Republican primary candidate who won the May 2026 GOP primary for Ohio governor and now faces Democrat Amy Acton in November. He remains a prominent national voice and a name in 2028 speculation.
See the 2028 Republican primary for how the nomination is won.
Republican names not running or ineligible in 2028
The sitting president cannot appear on the 2028 ballot. Having been elected in 2016 and 2024, he has reached the two-term limit and is constitutionally ineligible.
Former 2016 candidate now serving as Secretary of State, long seen as the main alternative to Vance. On September 9, 2026 he said he has "no plans at this time" to run in 2028 and is focused on his job; Wikipedia now lists him among Republicans who declined to run. He did not rule out a future campaign outright.
A populist, economic-nationalist Missouri senator long mentioned for the Trump-aligned lane. In September 2026 he ended speculation about a 2028 bid, telling the Washington Examiner he has no intention of seeking the Republican nomination.
Defense secretary and former TV host occasionally floated in 2028 chatter. In August 2026 he called an NBC report that he had discussed a presidential run "100% false," and a Pentagon spokesman said he "is not running for president."
A former South Carolina governor and U.N. ambassador who was the last major rival standing in the 2024 Republican primary. Asked on CNN's State of the Union in April 2026 whether she would run in 2028, she said: "I will not."
Why isn't President Trump on the 2028 ballot? See Can Donald Trump run in 2028?
2028 Republican candidates: FAQ
Who is the 2028 Republican frontrunner?
Who are the 2028 Republican candidates?
Who will be the 2028 Republican nominee?
Who could challenge JD Vance for the 2028 Republican nomination?
Has anyone officially announced a 2028 campaign?
Who are the top 10 Republican candidates for 2028?
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