Who's Running 2028
Updated July 14, 2026

Who could be Ron DeSantis's 2028 running mate?

No shortlist has been reported. DeSantis has not been nominated for the 2028 Republican presidential primary, so there is no running mate yet. VP picks are made after the primaries -- typically in the summer of the election year. Here is how the choice would work and the kinds of profiles that could complement his ticket.

Quick answer

Has DeSantis named a running mate for 2028?

No. Ron DeSantis is tracked as a likely 2028 Republican presidential contender. At the Milken Institute Global Conference in May 2026, he said he is in his mid-40s and sees "a lot of runway" for a run. But he has not been nominated. Running mates are chosen after the primaries -- no nominee, no pick. No running-mate shortlist has been publicly reported as of July 14, 2026.

For background on the VP selection process and every contender's running-mate outlook, see the 2028 vice-presidential picks hub.

Governor context

DeSantis: term-limited Florida governor with military background

Ron DeSantis served as Governor of Florida from 2019 through January 2027. Florida's constitution bars governors from serving more than two consecutive four-year terms, so DeSantis was term-limited out of office. He left the governorship in January 2027, freeing him to focus on a potential 2028 campaign without the constraints of a current executive role.

DeSantis is also a U.S. Navy veteran and JAG officer who served in Iraq, a former U.S. Representative for Florida's 6th congressional district (2013-2018), and a Harvard Law School graduate. He ran for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, suspending his campaign in January 2024. He will be approximately 50 years old on Election Day 2028.

Ticket-balancing

What a DeSantis ticket would need to balance

VP picks typically aim for contrast in one or more dimensions. Here is how DeSantis's profile shapes the potential balance math -- all of this is speculative until he is nominated.

Geography

Florida (30 EV, Likely R) is already on the ticket if DeSantis is the nominee, so the VP choice does not need to supply it. A running mate from a key battleground -- Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Georgia, Arizona, or Nevada -- could broaden the path to 270. Note: Marco Rubio is also a Florida resident, so a DeSantis-Rubio pairing would face the 12th Amendment same-state constraint (Florida electors could not cast both votes for two Florida residents without forfeiting the VP electoral votes from Florida's 30 electors).

Experience and profile

At 50 on Election Day 2028, DeSantis brings a profile of state executive leadership and military service. His background is in executive governance (eight years as Florida governor), congressional service, and national-security law. A running mate with deep Senate experience, a populist economic message that appeals beyond the base, or a profile from a swing state the ticket needs could complement those strengths. Alternatively, a running mate with a different regional or ideological lane within the GOP could help unite the party behind the ticket.

The Florida same-state constraint explained

The 12th Amendment requires that presidential electors cast their votes for a president and a vice president who are not both from the same state as the electors themselves. Because DeSantis and Rubio are both Florida residents, Florida's 30 electors could not cast both their presidential vote for DeSantis and their VP vote for Rubio without forfeiting the VP votes -- a significant electoral cost of 30 electoral votes. This is the same constraint that led Dick Cheney to change his voter registration from Texas to Wyoming before joining George W. Bush's ticket in 2000. No such pairing has been discussed; this note is offered as constitutional context only.

Speculative - illustrative only

Republican profiles that could complement a DeSantis ticket

These are Republican figures whose geographic or experience profiles could theoretically balance a DeSantis ticket. No pairing has been reported or chosen. This is illustrative, not a shortlist.

JD Vance
Vice President of the United States - Ohio
Likely to run
Marco Rubio
U.S. Secretary of State - Florida
Likely to run
Ted Cruz
U.S. Senator (Texas) - Texas
Possible
Rand Paul
U.S. Senator (Kentucky) - Kentucky
Possible
Brian Kemp
Governor of Georgia - Georgia
Possible
Josh Hawley
U.S. Senator (Missouri) - Missouri
Possible
Tulsi Gabbard
Outgoing Director of National Intelligence - Hawaii
Possible
Sarah Huckabee Sanders
Governor of Arkansas - Arkansas
Possible
Quick answers

Ron DeSantis running mate FAQ

Who will be Ron DeSantis's 2028 running mate?
No one has been named. DeSantis has not been nominated for the 2028 Republican presidential primary, so there is no running mate yet. Running mates are chosen by the nominee after clinching the primaries -- typically in the summer of the election year. No shortlist has been publicly reported as of July 14, 2026.
Has Ron DeSantis announced a running mate for 2028?
No. DeSantis is tracked as a likely 2028 Republican contender. At the Milken Institute Global Conference in May 2026, he said he is in his mid-40s and sees 'a lot of runway' for a run in 2028 or beyond. But he has not been nominated and has announced no running-mate search. A vice-presidential pick is made after the primaries conclude, typically at or just before the party convention.
Could Marco Rubio be Ron DeSantis's running mate?
The same-state constraint is a significant obstacle. Both DeSantis and Rubio are Florida residents. Under the 12th Amendment, presidential electors must cast at least one of their two votes (for president and vice president) for someone who is not from the same state as the electors themselves. Florida's 30 electors could not cast both their presidential vote for DeSantis and their VP vote for fellow Florida resident Rubio without forfeiting Florida's 30 electoral votes on the VP slot. This is the same constraint that led Dick Cheney to change his voter registration from Texas to Wyoming before joining George W. Bush's 2000 ticket.
What would DeSantis look for in a 2028 running mate?
If DeSantis won the Republican nomination, the pick would likely aim to balance the ticket. He is from Florida (30 electoral votes, Likely R in recent cycles), so the VP does not need to supply that state. A running mate from a key battleground -- Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Georgia, Arizona, or Nevada -- could broaden the path to 270. At 50 on Election Day 2028, DeSantis brings a profile of executive and military service; a running mate with deep Senate experience, a populist economic message, or appeal to a coalition the ticket needs could round out the team.
When do presidential nominees announce running mates?
Nominees typically announce their vice-presidential pick in the summer before the general election, often just before or at the party convention. For 2028 that would be summer 2028, after the Republican primaries conclude.
Does DeSantis's running mate need to be eligible for president?
Yes. The 12th Amendment requires that the vice president be constitutionally eligible for the presidency -- a natural-born U.S. citizen, at least 35 years old, and a U.S. resident for at least 14 years. These are the same requirements that apply under Article II, Section 1. DeSantis himself was born in Jacksonville, Florida, and is a natural-born citizen eligible for the presidency.

Full Ron DeSantis profile - All 2028 VP picks - All running-mate analyses - Is DeSantis running in 2028? - Will DeSantis run in 2028? - DeSantis approval rating - Everything DeSantis has said about 2028

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