Updated June 24, 2026

The 2028 Republican primary

No one has formally entered the 2028 Republican primary yet, but the field is taking shape. Here are the 22 most-discussed Republican contenders, how the nomination is won, and what the calendar looks like.

The field

2028 Republican candidates

JD Vance

Vice President of the United States

Likely to run

Marco Rubio

U.S. Secretary of State

Television writer; no political office

Declared

Gregory Bovino

Former U.S. Border Patrol commander

U.S. Representative (Florida)

Possible

Donald Trump Jr.

Businessman and Republican fundraiser

Possible

Elise Stefanik

U.S. Representative (New York)

Possible

Glenn Youngkin

Former Governor of Virginia

U.S. Senator (Missouri)

Possible

Kristi Noem

Former Homeland Security Secretary

Possible

Nikki Haley

Former U.N. Ambassador

Possible

Pete Hegseth

U.S. Secretary of Defense

Possible

Rand Paul

U.S. Senator (Kentucky)

Possible

Sarah Huckabee Sanders

U.S. Senator (South Carolina)

Possible

Tom Cotton

U.S. Senator (Arkansas)

Possible

Tulsi Gabbard

Outgoing Director of National Intelligence

Possible

Vivek Ramaswamy

Entrepreneur; Ohio governor candidate

Possible

How the Republican nomination works

Each state holds a primary or caucus to award delegates. Delegates vote at the Republican National Committee (RNC) national convention in the summer of 2028, and a candidate who wins a majority becomes the nominee.

The official 2028 calendar is not finalized. Traditionally a handful of early states vote first, a large group votes on Super Tuesday in early March, and the rest follow through June.

Traditional early states

These states have often voted first. The 2028 order is not set, but they are worth watching.

Iowa New Hampshire Nevada South Carolina

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Quick answers

2028 Republican primary FAQ

Who is running in the 2028 Republican primary?

As of June 2026, no candidate has formally declared, but the most-discussed Republican contenders include JD Vance, Marco Rubio, Ron DeSantis, Dan Greaney, Gregory Bovino. See the full field below.

How does a party pick its 2028 nominee?

Each state holds a primary or caucus to allocate delegates to the candidates. Those delegates then vote at the party's national convention in the summer of 2028, and a candidate who wins a majority of delegates becomes the nominee.

When are the 2028 primaries?

The official 2028 calendar is not finalized yet. Historically, a few early states vote in January and February, a large group of states votes on Super Tuesday in early March, and the remaining states vote through about June.

What is the difference between a primary and a caucus?

A primary is a state-run election with secret ballots. A caucus is a party-run, in-person meeting where supporters gather to show their preference. Most states now use primaries.

See the full primary calendar by state or the Democratic primary.