The short answer is: nobody has officially won the 2028 race yet, and only a handful have formally declared—but there is already a long, widely discussed list of likely and possible contenders for president in 2028.

What we know for sure

The election itself

The 2028 United States presidential election is scheduled for Tuesday, November 7, 2028 ; the winner will be inaugurated on January 20, 2029. Because President Donald Trump is serving what is expected to be his second term, he cannot run again, which makes 2028 an open primary for both major parties.

Official candidates so far

As of mid‑2026, only a small number of people have formally registered with the FEC as 2028 presidential candidates, mostly from smaller parties and not the main Democratic or Republican contenders. Most of the names people are talking about are “likely” or “possible” candidates , not declared ones yet.

That means: right now, the real answer to “who will run?” is still speculative, but the political world is already mapping out who’s likely to try.

Who is being talked about for 2028?

Top Democratic names

Several Democrats are seen as plausible 2028 presidential candidates, including:

  • Kamala Harris – former vice president and 2024 Democratic nominee, with high name recognition.
  • Gavin Newsom – governor of California, frequently mentioned as a potential standard‑bearer.
  • Andy Beshear – governor of Kentucky, actively drawing interest from donors and already positioning himself as a serious contender.
  • Wes Moore – governor of Maryland, laying groundwork in swing states and at key Democratic events while saying he’s “not running” yet.
  • Gretchen Whitmer – governor of Michigan, long rumored as a 2028 candidate but in May 2026 said she would not run.
  • Pete Buttigieg – U.S. Secretary of Transportation, still on many “potential” lists.
  • Maura Healey , Josh Shapiro , J.B. Pritzker , Cory Booker , and others are also frequently cited as possible Democratic contenders.

Forum-style gossip often highlights that Democrats may be looking for someone less tied to the 2024 Biden–Harris era , which complicates Harris’s path but also makes her a natural fallback for many.

Top Republican names

On the Republican side, the list of potential 2028 contenders is similarly long, with many of the same figures who tried in 2024 repositioning:

  • Ron DeSantis – former governor of Florida, still a major name in GOP circles.
  • Nikki Haley – former UN ambassador and 2024 candidate, widely seen as likely to return.
  • Vivek Ramaswamy – 2024 presidential candidate, still active in discussions about 2028.
  • Ted Cruz , Marco Rubio , Tom Cotton , Josh Hawley , and J.D. Vance (current vice president) are all on many lists, with some leaning more “likely” than others.
  • Donald Trump is technically listed on some “potential candidate” lists in speculative pieces, but legally he cannot run again if he completes his second term.
  • Greg Abbott , Brian Kemp , Kristi Noem , Glenn Youngkin , and Doug Burgum are often mentioned as governors who could make serious bids.

One interesting thread in forums and commentary is whether JD Vance , as vice president, might quietly position himself as Trump’s natural successor, even if he doesn’t loudly declare early.

Third parties and independents

There is also space for:

  • Libertarian, Green, and other third‑party candidates, some of whom have already registered with the FEC.
  • Possible independent bids, though these tend to be more unpredictable and depend heavily on who’s willing to invest massive resources.

How this is unfolding in forums and news

Trending context

In late 2025 and into 2026, the 2028 race has become a trending topic in political news and online forums:

  • Articles and trackers are publishing “full lists by party” with candidates labeled as declared , likely , or possible.
  • Politico, NYT, Time, and The Week have all run features asking “Who will run for president in 2028?” and listing names, often with heavy caveats that it’s speculative.
  • On forums, users debate which names are real bets vs. just “media favorites,” and sometimes joke about unlikely or meme candidates (like commentators or influencers) who say they’re “leaving all doors open”.

Speculation that’s safe to mention

It’s fair to say that:

  • Both parties are likely to have large, crowded primaries because there’s no incumbent from their side running.
  • The race will probably start with donor courting, early state visits, and media positioning well before any formal declarations.
  • Some currently high‑profile figures (like Harris, Newsom, DeSantis, Haley) may be the most visible early on, but the final nominee could come from a slightly less obvious name once the primaries heat up.

Quick summary table (HTML)

html

<table>
  <thead>
    <tr>
      <th>Party</th>
      <th>Status of 2028 race</th>
      <th>Key names being talked about</th>
    </tr>
  </thead>
  <tbody>
    <tr>
      <td>Democratic</td>
      <td>Open primary; no incumbent running</td>
      <td>Kamala Harris, Gavin Newsom, Andy Beshear, Wes Moore, Pete Buttigieg, Maura Healey, Josh Shapiro</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Republican</td>
      <td>Open primary; Trump expected to be term‑limited</td>
      <td>Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley, Vivek Ramaswamy, Ted Cruz, J.D. Vance, Greg Abbott, Brian Kemp</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Third / Independent</td>
      <td>Some candidates already registered with FEC</td>
      <td>Various smaller-party and independent hopefuls; names less consistent in mainstream coverage</td>
    </tr>
  </tbody>
</table>

Bottom line: No single person has been decided as the 2028 winner yet, and only a few have formally declared. But the early “who will run” conversation already centers on a mix of former contenders, current governors, senators, and formerly high-ranking officials—especially Kamala Harris, Gavin Newsom, and Andy Beshear on the Democratic side, and Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley, and Vivek Ramaswamy on the Republican side.

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