who will be running for president in 2028

No official candidates have declared for the 2028 US presidential election yet, as it's still early—nominations won't solidify until mid-2027. Speculation is rampant across parties, fueled by polls, media reports, and early positioning in battleground states. President Donald Trump, reelected in 2024, cannot run again due to term limits, opening the field wide.

Republican Front-Runners

JD Vance leads as the clear favorite among Republicans, with 65% considering him in a September 2025 YouGov poll and 44% naming him their ideal nominee. Marco Rubio has been floated as a successor by Trump himself, though reports suggest tension with Vance, who Rubio called the "front-runner." Others gaining traction include Ron DeSantis (40% consideration), Donald Trump Jr. (37%), and Ted Cruz (29%).

Republican| Poll Consideration %| Ideal Nominee %| Key Notes 21
---|---|---|---
JD Vance| 65%| 44%| VP, top across sources
Ron DeSantis| 40%| 8%| Steady but secondary
Don Trump Jr.| 37%| 10%| Family name boost
Marco Rubio| 33%| <5%| Trump-endorsed buzz
Ted Cruz| 29%| <5%| Senate experience

Democratic Contenders

Democrats show a crowded field: Gavin Newsom tops at 55% consideration and 23% ideal pick, up sharply since April 2025 amid his podcast launches and state visits. Kamala Harris follows closely at 54% consideration and 19% ideal, leveraging her network despite 2024 loss. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez polls strong with youth (38% consideration, 8% ideal), touring with Bernie Sanders and eyeing a run.

• Pete Buttigieg (41%) : Transportation Sec., rising via midterms focus.

• Tim Walz (40%) : Gov., Midwest appeal post-2024 VP run.

• AOC (38%) : Progressive star, leads young voters; Senate bid possible.

• Others : Sanders (36%, age 87 by '28), Whitmer (20%), Pritzker (24%).

Democrat| Poll Consideration %| Ideal Nominee %| Momentum Drivers 23
---|---|---|---
Gavin Newsom| 55%| 23%| +24 pts rise, CA Gov. moves
Kamala Harris| 54%| 19%| Fundraising edge
Pete Buttigieg| 41%| 6%| Policy visibility
AOC| 38%| 8%| Youth surge, "Fighting Oligarchy" tour
Tim Walz| 40%| 5%| Battleground strength

Trending Context & Speculation

Forums and news buzz with Vance vs. Newsom as a dream matchup, per late 2025 polls where AOC even tweeted "Bloop!" after beating Vance hypothetically. Over 43 Democratic visits to early states like South Carolina signal hustle, while Republicans eye Vance-Rubio dynamics. Republicans remain cohesive post- Trump; Democrats fragment after 2024, with Newsom honing "pragmatic progressive" vibes via youth projects.

Light TL;DR : Vance dominates GOP; Newsom/Harris/AOC vie for Dems—watch 2026 midterms for clues.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.