Who's Running 2028
Updated July 14, 2026

2028 running-mate analysis

Per-candidate VP pick analysis for every major 2028 contender. Each page examines electoral map math, the 12th Amendment same-state constraint, and the ticket-balancing considerations that shape who a nominee would choose as a running mate.

How VP picks work

No running mates have been named yet

Running mates are chosen by the presidential nominee after clinching the party primary -- typically in the summer of the election year. For 2028 that would be summer 2028. No candidate has formally entered the race yet and no shortlists have been publicly reported. The pages below examine what a VP pick would need to accomplish for each hypothetical nominee, based on electoral math and publicly available information.

Democrats

Democratic contenders: VP pick analysis

Gavin Newsom
Governor of California

CA same-state constraint with Harris; VP must add battleground credibility

Pete Buttigieg
Former U.S. Transportation Secretary

Michigan (15 EV Tossup) already on ticket; Whitmer same-state constraint

Josh Shapiro
Governor of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania (19 EV, largest battleground) built in; VP targets other dimensions

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
U.S. Representative (NY-14)

NY Safe D (28 EV); youngest potential nominee ever (39 on Election Day)

Gretchen Whitmer
Governor of Michigan

Michigan (15 EV Tossup) on ticket; Buttigieg same-state 12th Amendment constraint

Kamala Harris
Former Vice President

CA same-state constraint with Newsom; VP must add swing-state credibility

Andy Beshear
Governor of Kentucky

KY Safe R (8 EV); VP must supply battleground credibility from PA/GA/MI/AZ/WI

Tim Walz
Governor of Minnesota

MN Lean D (10 EV); 2024 VP nominee; Klobuchar same-state 12th Amendment constraint

Cory Booker
U.S. Senator (NJ)

NJ Safe D (14 EV); VP must supply battleground credibility from swing states

J.B. Pritzker
Governor of Illinois

IL Safe D (19 EV); self-funding capacity; VP must add battleground credibility

Republicans

Republican contenders: VP pick analysis

JD Vance
Vice President of the United States

First sitting VP seeking the presidency since George H.W. Bush in 1988

Marco Rubio
U.S. Secretary of State

FL Likely R (30 EV); DeSantis same-state 12th Amendment constraint

Ron DeSantis
Former Governor of Florida

FL Likely R (30 EV); Rubio same-state constraint; term-limited out Jan 2027

Brian Kemp
Governor of Georgia

GA Tossup (16 EV) already on ticket; VP can focus on other battlegrounds

Nikki Haley
Former UN Ambassador

SC Safe R (9 EV); Tim Scott same-state constraint; foreign-policy profile

Ted Cruz
U.S. Senator (TX)

TX Likely R (40 EV); Abbott same-state constraint; Calgary-born eligibility note

Vivek Ramaswamy
Ohio GOP Governor Nominee

OH Likely R (17 EV); Vance same-state 12th Amendment constraint

The 12th Amendment same-state constraint

The 12th Amendment requires each state's presidential electors to vote for at least one person not from their own state. If a presidential and vice-presidential nominee are both residents of the same state, that state's electors cannot vote for both, effectively forfeiting those electoral votes.

The constraint is most significant for large or competitive states. Notable same-state pairings among 2028 contenders: Newsom and Harris (both California, 54 EV); Buttigieg and Whitmer (both Michigan, 15 EV); Rubio and DeSantis (both Florida, 30 EV); Vance and Ramaswamy (both Ohio, 17 EV). Each running-mate page explains the relevant constraint for that candidate.

The modern precedent is Dick Cheney, who changed his official residence from Texas to Wyoming in 2000 to avoid costing the Bush-Cheney ticket Texas's electoral votes (then 32 EV). Full 12th Amendment explainer -->

Quick answers

Running-mate FAQ

Who will be the 2028 running mates?
No nominees have been chosen yet. Running mates are selected by the presidential nominee after clinching the party's primary, typically in the summer of the election year -- for 2028 that would be summer 2028. No candidate has entered the 2028 presidential race formally, so no shortlists have been publicly reported as of July 14, 2026. Each page on this hub examines the electoral map math and ticket-balancing considerations for one candidate.
What is the 12th Amendment same-state constraint?
The 12th Amendment requires that each state's presidential electors cast votes for at least one person who is NOT from their own state. If the presidential and vice-presidential nominees are both residents of the same state, that state's electors cannot vote for both of them, costing the ticket those electoral votes. For example, a Newsom-Harris ticket would forfeit California's 54 electoral votes because both are California residents. Major parties avoid same-state tickets for this reason. The precedent is Dick Cheney, who changed his official residence from Texas to Wyoming before joining the 2000 Bush ticket.
When will 2028 VP nominees be announced?
Historically, presidential nominees announce their running mate in the summer before the general election -- often just before or at the party convention. For 2028, party conventions are expected in summer 2028, so VP announcements would follow the conclusion of primary voting. Filing deadlines for most primary states run from late 2027 through early 2028.
What factors go into a running-mate pick?
The main considerations are: geography (does the VP candidate help win a swing state the nominee needs?), experience (does the VP add a credential the nominee lacks, such as Senate foreign-policy depth or executive experience?), age and generational balance, ideological breadth to unify the party or appeal to moderates, and demographic appeal. No single factor is decisive -- past nominees have weighted these differently.
Does the vice president need to be eligible for president?
Yes. The 12th Amendment states that no person constitutionally ineligible to be president may serve as vice president. The VP must be a natural-born U.S. citizen, at least 35 years old, and a U.S. resident for at least 14 years -- the same requirements as the presidency under Article II. This bars naturalized citizens (like Elon Musk) and anyone who has already served two elected presidential terms.

See also: Vice President 2028 · 12th Amendment explainer · Full 2028 candidate list · Democratic contenders · Republican contenders

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