2028 United States presidential election#Republican Party primaries

{{See also|2024 United States elections}}

File:TrumpPortrait.jpg president, Donald Trump. His second term will expire at noon on January 20, 2029.]]

President Donald Trump, a Republican, is ineligible to seek reelection to a third term due to the restrictions of the American presidential term limits established by the Twenty-second Amendment.

The Republican Party returned to power in the United States in January 2025 with a government trifecta following the 2024 elections. Trump, who was elected president in 2016 but lost a re-election bid in 2020 to Joe Biden, and JD Vance, a then-senator from Ohio defeated vice president Kamala Harris, who began her campaign following Biden's exit from the 2024 election, and Minnesota governor Tim Walz. Trump's victory was credited to a post-pandemic surge in inflation,{{Efn|Attributed to multiple sources: {{Cite web |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/presidential-election-harris-trump-inflation-could-decide-outcome/ |title=Why inflation in one battleground state could sway the election |date=October 30, 2024 |last=Picchi |first=Aimee |publisher=CBS News |access-date=March 15, 2025}}{{Cite web |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Business/inflation-helped-tip-election-trump-experts/story?id=115601699 |title=Why inflation helped tip the election toward Trump, according to experts |date=November 8, 2024 |last=Zahn |first=Max |publisher=ABC News |access-date=March 15, 2025}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/inflation-elections-war-dominated-2024-2024-12-23/ |title=Inflation, elections and war dominated 2024 |date=December 23, 2024 |last=Robinson |first=Simon |publisher=Reuters |access-date=March 15, 2025}}}} a migrant crisis at the U.S.–Mexico border,{{Efn|Attributed to multiple sources: {{Cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/06/us/trump-immigration-border.html |title=Voters Were Fed Up Over Immigration. They Voted for Trump. |date=November 6, 2024 |last=Jordan |first=Miriai |work=The New York Times |access-date=March 15, 2025}}{{Cite web |url=https://abcnews.go.com/538/immigration-swung-voters-color-trump/story?id=116016407 |title=How immigration swung voters of color to Trump |date=November 20, 2024 |last=Tesler |first=Michael |work=FiveThirtyEight |publisher=ABC News |access-date=March 15, 2025}}{{Cite web |url=https://abcnews.go.com/538/voters-chose-trump/story?id=115827243 |title=Why voters chose Trump |date=November 14, 2024 |last=Potts |first=Monica |work=FiveThirtyEight |publisher=ABC News |access-date=March 15, 2025}}}} and a global anti-incumbent backlash.{{cite news |last=Burn-Murdoch |first=John |date=November 7, 2024 |title=Democrats join 2024's graveyard of incumbents |url=https://www.ft.com/content/e8ac09ea-c300-4249-af7d-109003afb893 |access-date=November 8, 2024 |work=Financial Times}}{{Cite web |last1=Burton |first1=Cooper |date=November 18, 2024 |title=Democrats aren't alone — incumbent parties have lost elections all around the world |url=https://abcnews.go.com/538/democrats-incumbent-parties-lost-elections-world/story?id=115972068 |access-date=November 20, 2024 |website=ABC News}}{{Cite web |last=Beauchamp |first=Zack |date=November 6, 2024 |title=The global trend that pushed Donald Trump to victory |url=https://www.vox.com/2024-elections/383208/donald-trump-victory-kamala-harris-global-trend-incumbents |access-date=March 15, 2025 |website=Vox |language=en-US}} In addition, Republicans secured control of the Senate, flipping four seats and earning a three seat majority, while also retaining a House majority, though the party's majority narrowed to three seats after losing two seats.{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/elections/2024/11/10/uncalled-house-races-2024-election-results/ |title=Republicans inch toward 'trifecta' control of House, Senate, White House |date=November 12, 2024 |last1=Sotomayor |first1=Marianna |last2=Vazquez |first2=Maegan |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=November 14, 2024}}

{{Main|United States Electoral College}}

{{See also|United States presidential primary|Primary elections in the United States}}

The president and vice president of the United States are elected through the Electoral College, determined by the number of senators and representatives with an additional three representatives for Washington, D.C. A majority of 270 votes is needed to win the election. Forty-eight states use a winner-take-all system, in which states award all of their electors to the winner of the popular vote. In Maine and Nebraska, two votes are allocated to the winner of the popular vote, while each of the individual congressional districts have one vote. Electoral votes are certified by state electors in December and by Congress on January 6.{{Cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/02/us/politics/what-is-the-electoral-college.html |title=What to Know About the Electoral College |date=November 2, 2024 |last=Hassan |first=Adeel |work=The New York Times |access-date=November 11, 2024}} Presidential candidates are selected in a presidential primary, conducted through primary elections run by state governments or caucuses run by state parties which bind convention delegates to candidates.{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/monkey-cage/wp/2015/05/12/everything-you-need-to-know-about-how-the-presidential-primary-works/ |title=Everything you need to know about how the presidential primary works |date=May 12, 2015 |last=Putnam |first=Josh |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=November 11, 2024}} A brokered convention occurs when a candidate does not receive a majority of votes on the first round of voting,{{Cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/27/us/politics/brokered-democratic-convention.html |title=A Brokered Convention? Here's What's Happened Before |date=February 27, 2020 |last=Cramer |first=Maria |work=The New York Times |access-date=November 11, 2024}} or when a candidate withdraws.{{Cite web |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/nexstar_media_wire/4784607-after-biden-drops-out-of-2024-race-does-kamala-harris-become-the-democratic-nominee-not-exactly/ |title=After Biden drops out of 2024 race, does Kamala Harris become the Democratic nominee? Not exactly |date=July 21, 2024 |last=Bink |first=Addy |work=The Hill |access-date=November 11, 2024}}

Election Day in the United States is held on the first Tuesday that falls after the first Monday in November.{{cite web |title=2 U.S. Code § 7 - Time of election |url=https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/2/7 |website=law.cornell.edu |publisher=Cornell Law School |access-date=November 7, 2022}} The 2028 presidential election will occur on November 7, 2028.

The United States Constitution limits occupancy of the presidency to individuals who are at least thirty-five, who have been a resident in the United States for at least fourteen years, and who are a natural-born citizen.{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/04/11/trump-convicted-felony-serve-president/ |title=Trump's the likely GOP nominee. He can serve even if convicted of a crime. |date=April 19, 2024 |last=Nakamura |first=David |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=March 15, 2025}} Section three of the Fourteenth Amendment prevents current and former federal, state, and military officials from holding office—including the presidency—if they have "engaged in insurrection or rebellion" against the United States;{{Cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-66690276 |title=The 14th Amendment plan to disqualify Trump, explained |date=February 7, 2024 |last1=Cabral |first1=Sam |last2=Epstein |first2=Kayla |publisher=BBC News |access-date=March 15, 2025}} in March 2024, the Supreme Court unanimously ruled in Trump v. Anderson that former president Donald Trump could seek office after challenges to his ballot eligibility were raised by several state attorneys general.{{Cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/04/us/politics/trump-supreme-court-colorado-ballot.html |title=Trump Prevails in Supreme Court Challenge to His Eligibility |date=March 4, 2024 |last=Liptak |first=Adam |author-link=Adam Liptak |work=The New York Times |access-date=March 15, 2025}} A convicted felon may serve as president.{{Cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/article/trump-investigation-conviction.html |title=Trump Has Been Convicted. Can He Still Run for President? |date=June 20, 2024 |last=Astor |first=Maggie |work=The New York Times |access-date=March 15, 2025}} Elon Musk, most well known for his leadership of Tesla, SpaceX, and X (formerly Twitter), is ineligible to serve as president as he was born in South Africa and is a naturalized citizen.{{Cite web |url=https://www.fastcompany.com/91224581/can-elon-musk-run-for-president |title=Can Elon Musk run for president? |date=November 7, 2024 |last=Morris |first=Chris |work=Fast Company |access-date=March 15, 2025}}

Trump is ineligible to be elected to a third term, as the Twenty-second Amendment forbids any person from being elected president more than twice.{{Cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/18/us/politics/trump-third-term-2028-constitution.html |title=No, Trump Cannot Run for Re-election Again in 2028 |date=November 18, 2024 |last=Vigdor |first=Neil |work=The New York Times |access-date=November 18, 2024}} Nonetheless, he has repeatedly suggested running for a third term, an idea supported by several of his allies, including Steve Bannon.{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/02/20/trump-third-term-king-unconstitutional/ |title=Trump again raises idea of running for an unconstitutional third term |date=February 20, 2025 |last=McDaniel |first=Justine |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=March 15, 2025}} In January 2025, Tennessee representative Andy Ogles proposed a resolution to amend the Twenty-second Amendment, allowing for presidents who have served two non-consecutive terms to seek a third term. The verbiage of the amendment would prevent living presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama, all currently ineligible under the 22nd Amendment, from running for a third term.{{Cite web |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/house/5104133-rep-andy-ogles-proposes-trump-third-term-amendment/ |title=Tennessee Republican proposes amendment to allow Trump to serve third term |date=January 23, 2025 |last=Timotija |first=Filip |work=The Hill |access-date=March 15, 2025}} At CPAC 2025, conservative groups, such as the Third Term Project, supported Ogles' resolution and promoted the idea of Trump running for an as-yet unconstitutional third term.{{Cite web |last1=Quarshie |first1=Mabinty |last2=Bullis |first2=Hailey |date=February 20, 2025 |title=CPAC pushes Trump to run for an unconstitutional third term- Washington Examiner |url=https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/white-house/3324704/cpac-trump-power-third-term-push/ |access-date=February 22, 2025 |language=en-US}}{{cite web|url=https://www.newsweek.com/third-term-project-donald-trump-2028-constitution-2034316 |title=What Is the Third Term Project? Pro-Trump Group Bids to Change Constitution |date=February 21, 2025 |publisher=Newsweek|last1=Palmer|first1=Ewan}} In response, New York Democratic representative Dan Goldman planned to introduce a resolution affirming the Twenty-second Amendment.{{Cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/27/us/politics/trump-presidential-term-limit.html |title=Trump's Third-Term Talk Faces Pushback From a Democratic Congressman |date=February 27, 2025 |last=Broadwater |first=Luke |work=The New York Times |access-date=March 15, 2025}}

{{Main|Red states and blue states}}

File:2020_Cook_PVI.svg. Swing states are the states in lighter colors.]]Most U.S. states are usually not highly competitive in presidential elections, often voting consistently for the same party due to longstanding demographic and ideological differences. In the Electoral College, this results in major-party candidates primarily focusing their campaigns on swing states, which can swing between parties from election to election. These states are critical for a presidential candidate's path to victory. For 2028, the expected swing states likely include the Rust Belt states of Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Michigan and the Sun Belt states of Arizona, Georgia, Nevada, and North Carolina, all of which were narrowly won by Trump in 2024.{{cite web |last=Mallinson |first=Daniel J. |date=November 7, 2024 |title=How Trump won Pennsylvania − and what the numbers from key counties show about the future of a pivotal swing state |url=https://theconversation.com/how-trump-won-pennsylvania-and-what-the-numbers-from-key-counties-show-about-the-future-of-a-pivotal-swing-state-243127 |access-date=November 13, 2024 |website=The Conversation}}{{cite web |last=Wolf |first=Zachary B. |date=November 9, 2024 |title=Analysis: Trump's win was real but not a landslide. Here's where it ranks |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2024/11/09/politics/donald-trump-election-what-matters/index.html |access-date=November 13, 2024 |website=CNN }}{{cite news |last=Sedghi |first=Amy |date=November 10, 2024 |title=Trump wins Arizona to clinch sweep of seven battleground states |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/nov/10/trump-wins-arizona-completing-sweep-of-all-seven-battleground-states-ap-reports |access-date=November 13, 2024 |work=The Guardian |issn=0261-3077}}

States formerly considered swing states, such as Florida, Iowa, and Ohio, voted for Trump in all three of his previous election bids, as well as for the Republican Party's candidates in other state and federal elections, with increasing margins in each election.{{cite news |last1=Kondik |first1=Kyle |title=No, Ohio Is Not in Play |url=https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2023/08/29/forget-about-ohio-its-fools-gold-00113224 |access-date=November 8, 2024 |date=August 29, 2023 |website=Politico}}{{cite news |last1=Bischoff |first1=Laura A. |title=What's the future for Ohio Democrats after huge election losses? |url=https://eu.dispatch.com/story/news/politics/state/2024/11/08/gop-scores-huge-wins-in-ohio-whats-next-for-democrats/75368161007/ |access-date=November 8, 2024 |work=The Columbus Dispatch |date=November 8, 2024}}{{cite news |last1=Kephart |first1=Tim |title=Florida joins the rest of the Deep South as a Republican stronghold |url=https://www.abcactionnews.com/news/state/florida-joins-the-rest-of-the-deep-south-as-a-republican-stronghold |access-date=November 8, 2024 |work=WFTS-TV |date=November 6, 2024}} Former swing states that have voted for Democrats even in Republican national victories and have become blue states since 2008 include Colorado, New Hampshire, New Mexico, and Virginia.{{cite web |last1=Mejia |first1=Elena |last2=Skelley |first2=Geoffrey |title=How The 2020 Election Changed The Electoral Map |date=December 8, 2020 |url=https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/2020-swing-states/ |access-date=March 19, 2021 |archive-date=April 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220414215627/https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/2020-swing-states/ |website=FiveThirtyEight }} Due to its recent record of voting Democratic even during Republican national wins, Nebraska's 2nd congressional district has been called "the Blue Dot".{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/20/us/politics/nebraska-trump-electoral-vote.html |title=How One Man's Vote in Nebraska Could Change the Presidential Election|first1=Jonathan |last1=Weisman |first2=Reid |last2=Epstein |newspaper=The New York Times |date=September 20, 2024 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240923200639/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/20/us/politics/nebraska-trump-electoral-vote.html |archive-date=September 23, 2024 }}{{Cite web |last=Sanderford |first=Aaron |date=January 31, 2025 |title=Defenders of Nebraska's 'blue dot' come out in force against winner-take-all at hearing • Nebraska Examiner |url=https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/01/30/defenders-of-nebraskas-blue-dot-come-out-in-force-against-winner-take-all-at-hearing/ |access-date=March 8, 2025 |website=Nebraska Examiner |language=en-US}}

{{Gallery

| title = Potential Republican candidates{{Efn|Individuals listed below have been mentioned as potential 2028 presidential candidates in at least two reliable media sources in the last six months.|name=CandidateNote}}

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|File:Greg Abbott in 2024 (cropped).jpg|{{center|Governor
Greg Abbott
of Texas
(2015–present)}}

|File:Steve Bannon (53809249375) (cropped).jpg|{{center|White House's former chief strategist
Steve Bannon
from Virginia
(2017)}}

|File:Ted Cruz official 116th portrait (cropped).jpg|{{center|Senator
Ted Cruz
from Texas
(2013–present)}}

|File:Ron DeSantis official photo (cropped).jpg|{{center|Governor
Ron DeSantis
of Florida
(2019–present)}}

|File:Nikki Haley by Gage Skidmore (cropped).jpg |{{center|Former Ambassador
Nikki Haley
from South Carolina
(2017–2018)}}

|File:Brian Kemp 2023.jpg|{{center|Governor
Brian Kemp
of Georgia
(2019–present)}}

|File:Official Portrait of Secretary Kristi Noem (cropped 2).jpg|{{center|Secretary of Homeland Security
Kristi Noem
from South Dakota
(2025–present)}}

|File:Vivek Ramaswamy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, 2025 (cropped).jpg|{{center|Entrepreneur
Vivek Ramaswamy
from Ohio}}

|File:Secretary Marco Rubio, January 2025 (cropped).jpg|{{center|Secretary of State
Marco Rubio
from Florida
(2025–present)}}

|File:Sarah Sanders September 2024 (cropped).jpg|{{center|Governor
Sarah Huckabee Sanders
of Arkansas
(2023–present)}}

|File:Tim Scott official portrait.jpg|{{center|Senator
Tim Scott
from South Carolina
(2013–present)}}

|File:JD Vance Inaugural Portrait (cropped).png|{{center|Vice President
JD Vance
from Ohio
(2025–present)}}

|File:Youngkin Governor Portrait (3x4 cropped).jpg|{{center|Governor
Glenn Youngkin
of Virginia
(2022–present)}}|}}

Greg Abbott is an American politician, attorney, and jurist serving since 2015 as the 48th governor of Texas. He served from 2002 to 2015 as the 50th attorney general of Texas and from 1996 to 2001 as a justice of the Texas Supreme Court. Abbott is the longest-serving incumbent governor in the United States. Abbott is regarded as a strong Trump supporter, especially on immigration and securing the southern border. He has worked to strengthen his state's cooperation with the Trump administration on immigration issues.{{cite web | last=Manchester | first=Julia | title=7 most likely GOP successors to Trump in 2028 | website=The Hill | date=February 15, 2025 | url=https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/5139201-potential-republican-successors-to-trump/ | access-date=March 22, 2025}} Abbott has been noted as a potential contender by The Dallas Morning News and The Houston Chronicle.{{cite web|title=With his national profile on the rise, is a White House run in Greg Abbott's future?|url=https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2025/03/17/with-his-national-profile-on-the-rise-is-a-white-house-run-in-greg-abbotts-future/|date=March 17, 2025|access-date=March 30, 2025|work=The Dallas Morning News|last1 =Jeffers Jr.|first1=Gomer}}{{Cite news |last=Wallace|first=Jeremy|date=April 2, 2025 |title=How Ted Cruz reacted to Donald Trump saying he may run for president for a third term|url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas-take/article/ted-cruz-donald-trump-third-term-20253569.php|access-date=April 5, 2025 |work=The Houston Chronicle |language=en-US}}

Steve Bannon is an American media executive, political strategist, and former investment banker. He served as the White House's chief strategist for the first seven months of U.S. president Donald Trump's first administration, before Trump discharged him. He is a former executive chairman of Breitbart News. Bannon wants to see Trump run again in 2028 and has already endorsed him.{{Cite web |date=March 19, 2025 |title=Steve Bannon admits Maga operatives 'working' on third term for Trump |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/steve-bannon-trump-third-term-b2717861.html |access-date=March 31, 2025 |website=The Independent |language=en}} In April 2025, he told Bill Maher that "President Trump is going to be elected again".{{Cite web |last=Galbraith |first=Alex |date=April 13, 2025 |title="He's going to have a third term": Bannon tells Maher Trump is sticking around in 2028 |url=https://www.salon.com/2025/04/13/hes-going-to-have-a-third-term-bannon-tells-maher-is-sticking-around-in-2028/ |access-date=April 15, 2025 |website=Salon.com}}

Bannon has been mentioned as a potential 2028 presidential contender in Politico Magazine{{Cite web |url=https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2025/04/15/tariff-debate-2028-presidential-election-00290366 |title=Why Trump's Heir Apparent Will Come Out of the Trade Wars |date=April 15, 2025 |last=Mills |first=Curt |work=Politico Magazine |access-date=April 16, 2025}} and in an interview with Politico,{{Cite web |date=March 12, 2025 |title='I think he's serious': Bannon won't rule out presidential run in 2028 |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2025/03/12/bannon-2028-presidential-trump-00227220 |access-date=March 15, 2025 |website=Politico |language=en}} in which Bannon did not deny the possibility should president Donald Trump not run for a third term. Bannon received 12% in the CPAC 2025 straw poll, coming second ahead of Ron DeSantis and Marco Rubio but far behind Vice President JD Vance (61%).{{cite news |title=Vance is overwhelming favorite to be Trump's successor in CPAC straw poll |first=Julia |last=Manchester |work=The Hill|date=February 22, 2025 |access-date=March 17, 2025 |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/5159257-trump-successor-vance-maga-poll/}} By March 2025, The New York Times wrote that allies of Bannon were "quick to mention him as a potential candidate for president".{{Cite news |last1=Pager |first1=Tyler |last2=Haberman |first2=Maggie |date=March 9, 2025 |title=The Populist vs. the Billionaire: Bannon, Musk and the Battle Within MAGA |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/09/us/politics/stephen-bannon-elon-musk-maga.html |access-date=March 15, 2025 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}

Ted Cruz has served as a U.S. senator from Texas since 2013. The runner-up to Donald Trump in the 2016 Republican Party presidential primaries, Cruz has said that he expects to seek the presidency again at some point. The Texas Tribune posited following Cruz's reelection victory in November 2024 that he had kept his national ambitions alive, reporting that Brendan Steinhauser, an influential Texas GOP operative independent of Cruz's Senatorial campaign, argued that Cruz's comfortable win 'keeps him in the conversation nationally', and that Cruz could springboard his coalition in Texas into a formidable presidential campaign.{{Cite news |last=Scherer|first=Jasper |date=November 14, 2024 |title=How Ted Cruz pulled off a decisive win and kept his White House hopes afloat |url=https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/14/ted-cruz-texas-senate-win-transgender-rights-political-future/ |access-date=January 3, 2025 |work=The Texas Tribune |language=en-US}} He was also mentioned as a potential candidate by The Houston Chronicle and Politico.{{Cite web |last=Leonard |first=Ben |date=April 9, 2025 |title=Ted Cruz breaks ranks with Trump and advances his own agenda |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2025/04/09/ted-cruz-commerce-agenda-2028-00282843 |access-date=April 12, 2025 |website=POLITICO |language=en}}

Ron DeSantis has served as the governor of Florida since 2019 and previously ran for the Republican presidential nomination in 2024. He has been considered a possible candidate by Politico,{{Cite web |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2024/08/11/ron-desantis-political-future-00172482|title= Trump anointed Vance as MAGA crown prince — but DeSantis isn't going away |date=August 4, 2024 |last1=Fineout |first1=Gary|last2=Leonard |first2=Kimberly|work=Politico|access-date=January 22, 2025}} the Associated Press,{{Cite news |last1=Payne|first1=Kate |last2=Gomez Licon |first2=Adriana |date=February 5, 2025 |title=DeSantis goes to battle with Florida Republicans in trying to get closer to Trump |url=https://apnews.com/article/desantis-trump-florida-immigration-bill-2028-b01cd013ca8a315db259938c8167c4aa |work=Associated Press|access-date=February 22, 2025}} and The Hill.

Nikki Haley was the runner-up in the Republican presidential nomination in 2024. She previously served as the United States Ambassador to the United Nations from 2017 to 2018, during the first Trump administration, and as the governor of South Carolina from 2011 to 2017. She has been considered a potential candidate by NBC News,{{cite web|last=Dixon|first=Matt|date=November 7, 2024|title=Trump's win maintains his hold on the GOP. It also kicks off plans for a succession.|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trumps-win-maintains-hold-gop-also-kicks-plans-succession-rcna179045|work=NBC News|access-date=February 8, 2025}} Politico, KSAZ-TV,{{cite web|date=November 6, 2024|title=5 Republicans who could run for president in 2028|url=https://www.fox10phoenix.com/news/republicans-possible-candidates-president-2028|work=KSAZ-TV|access-date=February 8, 2025}} and The Hill.{{cite web|date=November 26, 2024|access-date=April 4, 2025|title=America needs another Reagan — Nikki Haley is following his path to power |url=https://thehill.com/opinion/campaign/5004848-nikki-haley-2028-ronald-reagan/|work=The Hill|last=Mayhugh|first=Jeff}}

Brian Kemp has served as the governor of Georgia since 2019. Kemp opposed President Trump's claims of voter fraud in the 2020 election but was ultimately endorsed by Trump in Kemp's successful 2022 re-election campaign.{{cite web |last1=Bookman|first1=Jay |date=December 5, 2024 |title=Bookman: Kemp has complex political calculus ahead as he ponders leaving Georgia Governor's Mansion |url=https://georgiarecorder.com/2024/12/05/bookman-kemp-has-complex-political-calculus-ahead-as-he-ponders-leaving-georgia-governors-mansion/ |access-date=January 28, 2025 |work=Georgia Recorder}} Kemp has been mentioned as a potential candidate for federal office after being term-limited as governor, either for U.S. Senate in 2026 or for president in 2028.{{cite news |last=Gringlas |first=Sam |date=October 29, 2024 |title=In a razor-thin race, Trump's complicated ties with Georgia's governor could matter |url=https://www.npr.org/2024/10/28/nx-s1-5168017/2024-election-georgia-donald-trump-brian-kemp |access-date=November 27, 2024 |work=NPR}}{{Cite web |date=January 16, 2025|title=Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp wants to again speed up income tax cuts|url=https://apnews.com/article/georgia-brian-kemp-income-tax-cuts-lawsuits-dd97f22c93bd11139e7cea9d5a3cd4a7 |access-date=February 21, 2025 |website=AP News |language=en}}

Kristi Noem is the United States Secretary of Homeland Security and previously served as the governor of South Dakota from 2019 to 2025. She considered running for the president in 2024, but decided against pursuing the nomination. She has been mentioned as a possible candidate by Politico and The Hill.{{cite news |last=Manchester |first=Julia |date=February 15, 2025 |title=7 most likely GOP successors to Trump in 2028|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/5139201-potential-republican-successors-to-trump/ |newspaper=The Hill |access-date=February 22, 2025 }}

Vivek Ramaswamy is a billionaire businessman and founder of Roivant Sciences. He previously ran for the Republican presidential nomination in 2024. He has been mentioned as a possible contender by Politico, NBC News, and The Hill. However, he launched a bid for the 2026 Ohio gubernatorial election on February 24, 2025.{{Cite news |last=Homans |first=Charles |date=February 24, 2025 |title=Vivek Ramaswamy Announces Run for Ohio Governor |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/24/us/politics/vivek-ramaswamy-ohio-governor-announcement.html |access-date=February 24, 2025 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}

Marco Rubio is the United States Secretary of State and served as a U.S. senator from Florida from 2011 to 2025. Rubio sought the Republican nomination for president of the United States in 2016, losing to Donald Trump. Six former secretaries of state have been elected president of the United States, and Rubio has been mentioned as a potential candidate by Politico and The Hill.

Sarah Huckabee Sanders has served as the governor of Arkansas since 2023 and previously served as the 31st White House Press Secretary in the first Trump administration. She is the daughter of current United States Ambassador to Israel and former Governor of Arkansas Mike Huckabee who ran in the 2008 and 2016 Republican Party presidential primaries. She has been noted as a possible contender by NBC News, KSAZ-TV, and Politico.

Tim Scott has served as a U.S. senator from South Carolina since 2013 and ran for the nomination in 2024. He previously served as U.S. representative from South Carolina's 1st congressional district from 2011 to 2013. Scott has been considered as a possible candidate for president in 2028 by Axios, NBC News, Politico, and the Asbury Park Press.{{cite web|title=2028 United States presidential election betting odds: Scott, Gabbard, Abbott enter list|date=March 1, 2025|access-date=March 30, 2025|url=https://www.app.com/story/news/nation/2025/03/01/presidential-election-2028-odds-jd-vance-donald-trump-jr-march-1-update/80490952007/|work=Asbury Park Press}}

JD Vance has served as the vice president of the United States since 2025. He previously served as a U.S. senator from Ohio from 2023 to 2025. In a February 2025 interview, President Trump stated that he did not see Vance as his successor, stating "he's very capable" and "it's too early, we're just starting."{{cite news |title=Trump says he does not view Vance as his successor in the 2028 presidential race |first=Katie |last=Hawkinson |work=The Independent |date=February 10, 2025 |access-date=February 11, 2025 |location=Washington, D.C. |url=https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-vance-2028-presidential-race-bret-baier-b2695748.html}} At the 2025 Conservative Political Action Conference, Vance overwhelmingly won the annual presidential straw poll with 61% of attendees declaring their support.

Glenn Youngkin has served as the governor of Virginia since 2022, and is barred by the state's constitution from seeking a second consecutive term. He has been noted as a possible candidate by Politico, Axios,{{cite web|last=Cai|first=Sophia|title=Why these top Republicans won't be in Trump's cabinet|date=November 13, 2024|access-date=February 8, 2025|newspaper=Axios|url=https://www.axios.com/2024/11/13/trump-cabinet-republicans-opt-out}} NBC News, The Hill and The New York Times.{{Cite news |last=Glueck |first=Katie |date=2025-04-08 |title=Glenn Youngkin on D.E.I., Trump’s Tariffs and a Possible 2028 Run |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/08/us/politics/youngkin-interview-q-and-a.html |access-date=2025-04-20 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}

The following individuals stated that they would not run for president:

• Donald Trump Jr., businessman and son of incumbent president Donald Trump.{{Cite web|author=Moye, David|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/donald-trump-jr-2028-presidential-run-rumors_n_67cb4bfce4b056d4513235af|title=Donald Trump Jr. Denies Presidential Run Rumors In Expletive-Filled Statement|date=March 7, 2025|website=HuffPost}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-jr-responds-2028-presidential-run-rumors-2041457|title=Donald Trump Jr. responds to 2028 presidential run rumors|date=March 7, 2025|website=Newsweek}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.pennlive.com/news/2025/03/is-donald-trump-jr-planning-2028-presidential-run-he-responds-to-the-reports.html|title=Is Donald Trump Jr. planning 2028 presidential run? He responds to reports|first=Brian|last=Linder|date=March 10, 2025|website=Pennlive}}

According to reporting from NBC News, multiple DNC members are looking into changing the order of state primaries for the Democratic nomination. Chair of the Nebraska Democratic Party Jane Kleeb stated in November 2024 that "The 2024 calendar will absolutely not be the calendar for 2028."{{cite news |last1=Korecki |first1=Natasha |title=Democrats are already looking to revamp their early state primary calendar for 2028 |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/democrats-revamp-2028-early-state-primary-calendar-rcna180397 |access-date=16 April 2025 |work=NBC News |date=15 November 2024}} The DNC chose South Carolina to be the first primary in 2024.{{cite web |author1=Alex Seitz-Wald |title=Democrats make South Carolina first presidential primary voting state |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/democrats-make-south-carolina-first-presidential-primary-voting-state-rcna68918 |publisher=NBC News |access-date=18 April 2025 |date=4 February 2023}} In December 2024, Ray Buckley, Chairman of the New Hampshire Democratic Party, announced his intention to work towards restoring New Hampshire's status as the first-in-the-nation Democratic presidential primary for the 2028 presidential nominating calendar.{{cite web |last1=Sexton |first1=Adam |title=DNC chair race spotlights next fight for first-in-the-nation primary |url=https://www.wmur.com/article/closeup-dnc-chair-first-in-the-nation-primary-ray-buckley/63258986 |publisher=WMUR-TV |access-date=18 April 2025 |date=22 December 2024}} Democrats in Nevada have started a bid to hold the first-in-the-nation primary in 2028.{{cite news |last1=Birenbaum |first1=Gabby |title=Nevada Democrats restart push to be nation's first presidential primary in 2028 |url=https://thenevadaindependent.com/article/nevada-democrats-restart-push-to-be-nations-first-presidential-primary-in-2028 |access-date=16 April 2025 |work=The Nevada Independent |date=5 December 2024}}

{{Gallery

| title = Democratic candidates who have expressed an interest in running{{Efn|Individuals listed below have personally expressed an interest in seeking the 2028 Democratic Party presidential nomination in at least two reliable media sources in the last six months.|name=EID}}

| align = center

| footer =

| style =

| state =

| mode = nolines

| height = 160

| width = 160

| captionstyle =

|File:Jamie Raskin Official Portrait 2019 (cropped1).jpg |{{center|Representative
Jamie Raskin
from Maryland
(2017–present)}}

|File:Stephen A. Smith February 2020.jpg|{{center|Sports personality
Stephen A. Smith
from New York}}

|File:Tim Walz by Gage Skidmore (cropped).jpg |{{center|Governor
Tim Walz
of Minnesota
(2019–present)}}

}}

Jamie Raskin has served as the representative of Maryland's 8th Congressional District since 2017, and is a ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee. He also previously served as a state senator of Maryland's 20th legislative district. During a town hall in Cambridge, Maryland, an audience member asked him if he would consider running for president in the next election, to which Raskin said he would do "whatever it takes to save our democracy."{{Cite news |last=Trovato |first=Maggie |date=March 24, 2025 |title=Rep. Jamie Raskin comes to Cambridge for town hall|url=https://www.stardem.com/news/local_news/rep-jamie-raskin-comes-to-cambridge-for-town-hall/article_a7af78b4-b438-4edd-a112-5536f7bc7e46.html|work=The Talbot Spy}}{{Cite news |last=Anthony |first=P Ryan |date=March 24, 2025 |title=Congressman Jamie Raskin Speaks at Cambridge Town Hall|url=https://talbotspy.org/133341-2/ |work=The Star Democrat}} He has also been considered a potential candidate by The Advocate and The Nation.{{Cite news |last=Casey |first=John |date=January 7, 2025 |title=These 12 Democrats are the early top contenders for the party's presidential nomination in 2028 |url=https://www.advocate.com/politics/democrats-president-2028 |access-date=January 13, 2025 |work=The Advocate |language=en-US}}{{Cite news |last=Lehmann |first=Chris |date=December 12, 2024 |title=Democrats Are Overdue for New Leadership|url=https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/democratic-party-leadership/tnamp/|work=The Nation}}

ESPN sports television personality Stephen A. Smith stated in November 2024, following the election, that he would consider running if he had a reasonable chance of victory.{{cite web |author=Fortinsky, Sarah|title=Stephen A. Smith says he'd consider a presidential run if he had a 'legitimate shot' |url=https://thehill.com/blogs/in-the-know/4979495-stephen-a-smith-presidential-run/ |website=The Hill |access-date=February 3, 2025 |date=November 7, 2024}} In February 2025, he stated on his podcast, The Stephen A. Smith Show, that he would entertain the idea of launching a presidential campaign.{{cite web |title=Stephen A. Smith Says He's Considering a Presidential Bid |author=Kaloi, Stephanie|url=https://www.thewrap.com/stephen-a-smith-says-hes-considering-a-presidential-bid-i-just-might-video/ |website=TheWrap|access-date=February 3, 2025 |date= February 2, 2025}}{{cite web|author=McFadden, Joey|date=February 1, 2025|title=Stephen A. Smith Weighs Presidential Run Amid Shock Poll |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/stephen-a-smith-weighs-presidential-run-amid-shock-poll/ |website=The Daily Beast |access-date=February 3, 2025}} His comments came after he was included in a Democratic primary nationwide poll, where he received 2%.{{cite web|date=February 2, 2025 |title=Stephen A. Smith Says He 'Might Entertain' Presidential Run Because Dems Look 'So Pathetic' — Days After Poll Showing Him Just Behind Tim Walz |url=https://www.mediaite.com/podcasts/stephen-a-smith-says-he-might-entertain-presidential-run-because-dems-look-so-pathetic-days-after-poll-showing-him-just-behind-tim-walz/ |website=Mediaite |access-date=February 3, 2025|author=Nieto, Phillip}} He later walked back some of these comments in February, saying that he was not interested in running for president,{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/style/2025/02/21/stephen-a-smith-for-president-democrats/ |title=What Democrats talk about when they talk about Stephen A. Smith |date=February 21, 2025 |last1=Voght |first1=Kara |last2=Strauss |first2=Ben |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=February 23, 2025 |quote=For his part, Smith has told countless interviewers some version of Hell no! when asked if he really wants to run for president.}} but in April 2025, he said that he has "no choice" but to consider a presidential bid.{{Cite web |url=https://www.axios.com/2025/04/13/stephen-a-smith-president-run-2028 |title=Stephen A. Smith says he has "no choice" but to consider presidential run |date=April 13, 2025 |last=Falconer |first=Rebecca |work=Axios |access-date=April 13, 2025}}

Tim Walz has served as the governor of Minnesota since 2019, and served as Kamala Harris's running mate in 2024. Walz is considered a prospective candidate, with Politico discussing Walz as a possible contender in November 2024, quoting an anonymous Harris staffer as saying, "When Democrats start talking about 2028, six months ago, Walz's name wouldn't have been on the list, now it might be on the top." In January 2025, The Advocate described him as 'an appealing candidate', crediting his ability to connect with rural and urban voters alike, as well as his experience governing a politically diverse state, and was listed as a potential 2028 candidate by The Washington Post that same month.{{Cite news |last=Blake |first=Aaron |date=January 25, 2025 |title=The 12 Democrats who make the most sense for 2028 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/01/25/2028-democrats-whitmer-shapiro-harris-buttigieg/ |newspaper=The Washington Post}}

He indicated in a March interview with The New Yorker that he was interested in running for president in 2028{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.newyorker.com/podcast/the-new-yorker-radio-hour/does-tim-walz-have-any-regrets|title=Tim Walz Might Run for President in 2028 if You Ask Him Nicely|first=David|last=Remnick|date=March 2, 2025|access-date=March 18, 2025|magazine=The New Yorker}} and criticized his and Harris's 2024 campaign that same month in a Politico interview, saying that "We (the campaign) shouldn’t have been playing this thing so safe," and reiterated that he was interested in running in 2028.{{Cite web |last=Schneider |first=Elena |date=March 8, 2025 |title=Tim Walz has some sharp critiques of the Dem 2024 campaign |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2025/03/08/tim-walz-2024-campaign-critiques-00219718 |access-date=March 18, 2025 |website=Politico|language=en}}

{{Gallery

| title = Potential Democratic candidates{{Efn|name=CandidateNote}}

| align = center

| footer =

| style =

| state =

| mode = nolines

| height = 160

| width = 160

| captionstyle =

|File:Andy Beshear 2024 (cropped).jpg|{{center|Governor
Andy Beshear
of Kentucky
(2019–present)}}

|File:Cory Booker, official portrait (119th Congress) (cropped).jpg |{{center|Senator
Cory Booker
from New Jersey
(2013–present)}}

|File:Pete Buttigieg, Secretary of Transportation (cropped).jpg|{{center|Former Secretary of Transportation
Pete Buttigieg
from Michigan
(2021–2025)}}

|File:Roy Cooper in November 2023 (cropped).jpg|{{center|Former Governor
Roy Cooper
of North Carolina
(2017–2025)}}

|File:Andrew_Cuomo_2019_(cropped).jpg|{{center|Former Governor
Andrew Cuomo
of New York
(2011–2021)}}

|File:Ambassador-emanuel-portrait (cropped).jpg|{{center|Former Ambassador
Rahm Emanuel
from Illinois
(2022–2025)}}

|File:Senator Ruben Gallego Official Portrait (cropped).jpg|{{center|Senator
Ruben Gallego
from Arizona
(2025–present)}}

|File:Kamala Harris Vice Presidential Portrait (cropped).jpg|Former Vice President
Kamala Harris
from California
(2021–2025)

|File:Maura Healey, official portrait, governor (cropped).jpg|{{center|Governor
Maura Healey
of Massachusetts
(2023–present)}}

|File:Ro Khanna, official portrait, 115th Congress (cropped).jpg|{{center|Representative
Ro Khanna
from California
(2017–present)}}

|File:Amy Klobuchar 2019 (cropped).jpg|{{center|Senator
Amy Klobuchar
from Minnesota
(2007–present)}}

|File:Sen Chris Murphy in 2023.jpg|{{center|Senator
Chris Murphy
from Connecticut
(2013–present)}}

|File:Newsom April 2024 (cropped2).jpg|{{center|Governor
Gavin Newsom
of California
(2019–present)}}

|File:Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Official Portrait (cropped 2).jpg|{{center|Representative
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
from New York
(2019–present)}}

|File:Jon Ossoff, United States Senator from Georgia.jpg|{{center|Senator
Jon Ossoff
from Georgia
(2021–present)}}

|File:JB Pritzker by Gage Skidmore.jpg|{{center|Governor
JB Pritzker
of Illinois
(2019–present)}}

|File:Governor Shapiro (cropped).jpg|{{center|Governor
Josh Shapiro
of Pennsylvania
(2023–present)}}

|File:8R4A9872 (53367444225) (Whitmer1).jpg|{{center|Governor
Gretchen Whitmer
of Michigan
(2019–present)}}

}}

Andy Beshear has served as the governor of Kentucky since 2019. He was previously on the shortlist to be the vice presidential nominee for the 2024 election,{{Cite news |last=Greve |first=Joan E. |date=August 4, 2024 |title=Who is Andy Beshear, the Kentucky governor who could be Harris's vice-presidential pick? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/aug/04/andy-beshear-vp-pick-kamala-harris-speculation |access-date=November 17, 2024 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}} and was seen as a potential replacement for President Joe Biden before he withdrew from the race. In October 2024, Beshear headlined an event for the New Hampshire Democrats, a key early primary state, where he promoted both himself and Vice President Kamala Harris to attendees, signaling his future aspirations.{{Cite web |last=Wren |first=Adam |date=November 11, 2024 |title=Who will lead Democrats in 2028? Meet the leaders positioning themselves to make moves. |website=Politico |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2024/11/11/2028-shadow-primary-underway-democratic-00188626}} Beshear was the most popular Democratic governor in the United States per Morning Consult, fueling speculation that he may run for president.{{cite web|title=Kentucky's Andy Beshear still ranks as most popular Democratic governor, survey finds|url=https://www.kentucky.com/news/politics-government/article298913915.html|last1=Horn|first1=Austin|date=January 22, 2025|access-date=January 28, 2025|website=kentucky.com}}{{cite web|title=Beshear maintains top-tier popularity, fueling 2028 presidential speculation among Democrats|url=https://www.whas11.com/article/news/politics/national-politics/kentucky-andy-beshear-one-of-the-most-popular-governors-in-us-poll-survey/417-c3e52087-75dd-4b45-b27a-378628f381d3|website=whas11.com|date=January 23, 2025|access-date=January 28, 2025|last1=Skebba|first1=Jay}} In response to ongoing speculation about his political ambitions, Beshear has stated in an interview with WDKY-TV that he will "see what the future holds", without explicitly ruling out a potential presidential run.{{Cite web |date=November 7, 2024 |title=Kentucky Gov. Beshear talks Harris loss, 2028 presidential run |url=https://fox56news.com/news/kentucky/kentucky-gov-beshear-talks-harris-loss-2028-presidential-run/ |access-date=November 17, 2024 |website=FOX 56 News |language=en-US |quote="'We'll see what the future holds in the future, but, right now, my only focus is on this job, is about making sure that I continue to stand up for Kentuckians and all Americans,' Beshear said."|last1=Taylor|first1=Isaac}}

Cory Booker has served as a U.S. senator from New Jersey since 2013 and ran for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020. He previously served as mayor of Newark, New Jersey from 2006 to 2013. Booker has been mentioned as a possible candidate for president in 2028 by The Hill,{{cite web |last1=Gans|first1=Jared|title=7 rising Democratic leaders to watch |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/5058031-democratic-leaders-watch-2028/ |website=The Hill |access-date=February 7, 2025 |date=January 1, 2025}}{{cite news |last=Timotija |first=Filip |date=November 20, 2024 |title=Harris is Democrats' preferred choice for 2028: Poll |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/5001537-poll-finds-most-dems-want-harris-for-next-presidential-nominee/ |newspaper=The Hill |access-date=February 8, 2025 }} Politico,{{Cite web |date=December 27, 2024 |title=The 2028 Democratic primary is already underway. But the first real moves are just around the corner. |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2024/12/27/democrats-harris-2028-primary-roundtable-00195423 |access-date=January 19, 2025 |website=Politico|language=en}} and NBC News. On April 1, 2025, Booker broke the record for the longest Senate floor speech in protest against Donald Trump and Elon Musk, which GOP pollster Frank Luntz remarked positioned him as a party leader in the coming future.{{Cite web |last=Fields|first=Ashleigh |date=April 2, 2025 |title=Frank Luntz: Booker marathon speech 'may have changed the course of political history' |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5227463-cory-booker-senate-record/ |access-date=April 2, 2025 |website=The Hill|language=en}}

Pete Buttigieg served as the United States Secretary of Transportation from 2021 to 2025. Prior to becoming Secretary of Transportation, he served as mayor of South Bend, Indiana, from January 1, 2012, to January 1, 2020, and launched a 2020 presidential campaign. Buttigieg was also a contender to be Vice President Kamala Harris' running mate after she secured the Democratic nomination for president. U.S. News reports that Buttigieg is seen as the party's top 'communicator' appearing on conservative television defending the Biden administration's policies. This report also hinted that Buttigieg might also run for governor of Michigan in 2026 to replace term-limited governor Gretchen Whitmer.{{Cite web|last1=Davis Jr.|first1=Elliott |url=https://www.usnews.com/news/national-news/articles/2024-11-29/possible-democratic-presidential-candidates-in-2028 |title=A (Way-Too-Early) List of Possible Democratic Presidential Contenders in 2028 |website=USNEWS |access-date=December 7, 2024 |date=November 29, 2024}} After Buttigieg's radio talk show appearances in New Hampshire and Cleveland to address infrastructure plans for the future, there has been speculation that Buttigieg might be making early campaign stops for the governor race in Michigan as well as the presidential election.{{cite web|last1=Scher |first1=Bill |url=https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2024/12/30/2028-presidential-candidates-analysis-00195391 |title=The Democrats and Republicans Best Positioned — Right Now — for 2028 |work=Politico |date=December 30, 2024 |access-date=February 7, 2025}} Buttigieg confirmed in February 2025 that he was considering a Senate run after dismissing a run for governor.{{cite web|last1=Nann Burke |first1=Melissa |url=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2025/02/01/mayor-pete-buttigieg-eyes-senate-bid-as-he-passes-on-run-for-michigan-governor/78131367007/ |title=Buttigieg eyes Senate bid as he passes on run for Michigan governor |work=The Detroit News |date=February 2, 2025 |access-date=February 2, 2025}} NBC News reported in March that he did not intend to run for Senate, setting up a potential presidential bid.{{Cite web |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-election/former-transportation-sec-pete-buttigieg-passes-michigan-senate-run-rcna196209 |title=Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg says he won't run for Senate or governor in Michigan |date=March 13, 2025 |last1=Marquez|first1=Alexandra|last2=Terkel|first2=Amanda|last3=Gomez|first3=Henry|work=NBC News |access-date=March 14, 2025}}

Roy Cooper served as the governor of North Carolina from 2017 to 2025. He was considered a potential contender to be the vice presidential nominee for the 2024 election but removed himself from consideration.{{cite web |last1=Miller |first1=Zeke |last2=Min Kim |first2=Seung |title=NC Gov. Cooper opted out of Harris VP vetting, in part over worry about GOP lieutenant: AP sources |url=https://apnews.com/article/harris-cooper-vice-president-vetting-9ff2a5abf9f4191e5ccb2d52e57b06a3 |publisher=The Associated Press |access-date=December 9, 2024 |date=July 29, 2024}} Politico has also referred to Cooper as a potential contender for the 2028 Democratic Party's presidential nomination.{{cite web |last1=Sentner |first1=Irie |title=Democratic governors (and 2028 hopefuls) gather to chart path under a Trump administration|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2024/12/07/demogratic-governors-trump-2028-00193169 |publisher=Politico|access-date=December 9, 2024 |date=December 7, 2024}} In an interview with The New York Times in December 2024, Cooper stated that "everything is on the table" and that he was interested in running for public office again.{{Cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/27/us/politics/roy-cooper-north-carolina-senate-2026-president-2028.html |title=As North Carolina's Governor Departs, He Stays Cagey on 2026 and 2028 |date=December 27, 2024 |last=Epstein |first=Reid |work=The New York Times |access-date=December 27, 2024}}

Andrew Cuomo served as the governor of New York from 2011 until his resignation due to numerous sexual assault allegations in 2021, and the 64th attorney general of New York from 2007 to 2010. He is a candidate in the 2025 New York City mayoral election. He has been mentioned as a potential 2028 presidential candidate in The Hill,{{Cite news |last=Parnes |first=Amie |date=February 27, 2025|access-date=March 15, 2025 |title=Andrew Cuomo seen as possible White House candidate by some Democrats |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/5165904-cuomo-2028-presidential/ |work=The Hill}} The New York Times,{{Cite news |last=Barron |first=James |date=March 3, 2025 |title=Cuomo's In, and It's a Whole New Mayor's Race |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/03/nyregion/cuomos-in-and-its-a-whole-new-mayors-race.html |access-date=March 15, 2025 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}} and The Wall Street Journal.{{Cite web |last=Otis |first=Ginger Adams |title=Andrew Cuomo Wants to Repair His Legacy—and New York City |url=https://www.wsj.com/politics/elections/andrew-cuomo-new-york-city-mayor-candidate-be8043cd |access-date=March 15, 2025 |website=The Wall Street Journal |language=en-US|date=February 22, 2025}} During an interview, Cuomo said "no comment" when asked whether or not he would run for president in the future.{{cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/reel/DH_o6YQva-y/?igsh=MTRhdXRsOTg4c3JneA== |title=National Action Network 2025 Convention - Mayoral Forum with Candidate Andrew Cuomo|last=Sharpton |first=Al |date=April 3, 2025 |access-date=April 13, 2025 |website=Instagram}}

Rahm Emanuel is an American politician and diplomat who most recently served as United States ambassador to Japan from 2022 to 2025. A member of the Democratic Party, he represented Illinois in the United States House of Representatives for three terms from 2003 to 2009. He was the White House Chief of Staff from 2009 to 2010 under President Barack Obama and served as mayor of Chicago from 2011 to 2019. There has speculation by Politico{{cite web |last=Kapos |first=Shia |date=December 18, 2024 |title=Rahm Emanuel for president? |url=https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook/2024/12/18/rahm-emanual-for-president-00195012 |access-date=March 12, 2025 |website=Politico}} and the Chicago Sun-Times that he may run for president in 2028.{{cite web |last=Sfondeles |first=Tina |date=March 3, 2025 |title=Rahm Emanuel says Democrats 'sunk' their own party as he mulls his political future |url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/politics/2025/03/03/rahm-emanuel-democrats-future-economic-club-of-chicago |access-date=March 12, 2025 |website=Chicago Sun-Times}} In March 2025, Jonathan Martin of Politico posited that Emanuel is preparing for a presidential campaign.{{Cite web |url=https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2025/03/12/rahm-emmanuel-president-2028-column-00224241|title=Rahm Emanuel Is Gearing Up to Run for President|last=Martin| first=Jonathan|website=Politico |date=March 12, 2025|access-date=March 15, 2025}}

Ruben Gallego has served as a U.S. senator from Arizona since 2025. He also previously served as U.S. representative from Arizona's 3rd congressional district from 2015 until 2025. Gallego was listed as a potential candidate by both Politico, NBC News,{{Cite web |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/democratic-jockeying-2028-presidential-election-already-underway-rcna179653 |title=Democratic jockeying for the 2028 presidential election is already underway |date=November 16, 2024 |last1=Smith |first1=Allan |last2=Korecki |first2=Natasha |last3=Seitz-Wald |first3=Alex |publisher=NBC News |access-date=January 18, 2025}} and The Advocate as he was the only battleground state Democratic Senate candidate that outpaced Harris in vote share by more than half of a percentage point and performed particularly well with Latino men, a key demographic that Democrats struggled with in 2024. The New York Times called him a good candidate who could win over working-class voters.{{cite web |last1=Bruni |first1=Frank |title=Newsom? Whitmer? Shapiro? 2024 Could Kill Their 2028 Dreams. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/14/opinion/2028-democrats-newsom-whitmer.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=January 23, 2025|date=November 14, 2024}}

Kamala Harris served as the vice president of the United States from 2021 to 2025. She became the nominee for president in the 2024 presidential election after President Joe Biden withdrew his bid, losing to Donald Trump.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/07/us/politics/kamala-harris-2028-run-for-president.html |title=What's Next for Kamala Harris? Here Are Six Options. |date=November 7, 2024 |last1=Epstein |first1=Reid |last2=Rogers |first2=Katie|last3=Green |first3=Eric |work=The New York Times |access-date=November 11, 2024}} Harris, who has the largest donor network in the Democratic Party, may run for the presidency again in 2028 according to The New York Times, as well as Politico{{Cite web |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2024/11/11/2028-shadow-primary-underway-democratic-00188626 |title=Who will lead Democrats in 2028? Meet the leaders positioning themselves to make moves. |date=November 11, 2024 |last1=Wren |first1=Adam |last2=Cadelago|first2=Christopher |last3=Kashinsky |first3=Lisa |last4=Otterbein |first4=Holly |last5=Schneider |first5=Elena |work=Politico |access-date=November 11, 2024}} and The Guardian,{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/dec/16/kamala-harris-2028-election-president-governor|title=Democrats eye Harris 2028 presidential run as they devise political comeback|work=The Guardian|date=December 16, 2024|access-date=January 28, 2025|last1=Helmore|first1=Edward}} although her loss in the previous election could potentially give her a disadvantage. According to USA Today, Harris intended to run in 2028 before Biden's withdrawal.{{Cite web |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/11/07/why-kamala-harris-campaign-failed/75961792007/ |title=Burdened by what had been: Kamala Harris couldn't convince voters |date=November 7, 2024|last=Chambers |first=Francesca |work=USA Today |access-date=November 11, 2024}} Politico has reported that Harris is considering running for president in 2028 or for governor of California in 2026.{{Cite web |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2024/11/25/kamala-harris-advisers-options-open-00191393 |title=Harris is telling her advisers and allies to keep her political options open |date=November 25, 2024 |last1=Cadelago |first1=Christopher |last2=Daniels |first2=Eugene |work=Politico |access-date=November 25, 2024}}{{Cite web |last=Daniels |first=Eugene |last2=Cadelago |first2=Christopher |date=March 7, 2025 |title=Kamala Harris sets a deadline for her next move |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2025/03/07/kamala-harris-california-governor-decision-deadline-00216737 |access-date=March 12, 2025 |website=Politico |language=en}}

Maura Healey has served as the governor of Massachusetts since 2023. She previously served as attorney general of Massachusetts from 2015 to 2023. Healey has been regarded as a potential candidate by Axios,{{cite web |last=Deehan |first=Mike |title=Spill of the Hill: Vive la Maura |url=https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2024/11/06/maura-healey-trump-critic-on-tv-in-2028|website=Axios |access-date=February 10, 2025|date=November 6, 2024}} the Boston Herald,{{Cite web |author=Van Buskirk, Chris|date=March 9, 2025 |title=Pols & Politics: Gov. Healey clearly wants to play a part in remaking the Democratic Party |url=https://www.bostonherald.com/2025/03/09/pols-politics-gov-healey-goes-late-night-for-struggling-democratic-party/ |access-date=April 7, 2025 |website=Boston Herald |language=en-US}} and WBSM.{{Cite web |last=Richard |first=Barry |date=March 5, 2025 |title=Massachusetts Gov. Healey May Be Considering 2028 White House Bid |url=https://wbsm.com/massachusetts-healey-presidential-run/ |access-date=April 7, 2025 |website=1420 WBSM |language=en}}

Ro Khanna has served as the representative of {{USHR|CA|17}} since 2017. Khanna has shown interest{{Cite web |last1=Wong|first1=Scott|date=July 30, 2024 |title=Progressive Rep. Ro Khanna tours steel and coal towns with an eye on higher office |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/progressive-democrat-ro-khanna-2028-election-steel-rust-belt-rcna163737 |access-date=February 14, 2025 |website=NBC News |language=en}} in running to be the "president on his vision" of progressive capitalism at some point{{Cite web|last=Berman |first=Russell |date=April 1, 2024 |title=Ro Khanna Wants to Be the Future of the Democratic Party |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2024/04/ro-khanna-california-biden-progressive/677888/ |access-date=February 14, 2025 |website=The Atlantic |language=en}} and is known as the representative of Silicon Valley in Congress. He served as the co-chair of Bernie Sanders 2020 presidential campaign. He has been described as a progressive but ideologically to the right of democratic socialists like Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Khanna has been proposed as a potential 2028 candidate by multiple news outlets, including The New Yorker,{{Cite magazine |last=Remnick |first=David |date=January 10, 2025 |title=Representative Ro Khanna on Elon Musk and the Tech Oligarchy |url=https://www.newyorker.com/podcast/the-new-yorker-radio-hour/representative-ro-khanna-on-elon-musk-and-the-tech-oligarchy |access-date=February 12, 2025 |magazine=The New Yorker |language=en-US |issn=0028-792X}} The Hill, Politico,{{Cite web |last=Wren |first=Adam |date=April 13, 2025 |title=Playbook: A rumble in the Rust Belt |url=https://www.politico.com/newsletters/playbook/2025/04/13/a-rumble-in-the-rust-belt-00288025 |access-date=April 15, 2025 |website=POLITICO |language=en}} NBC News, ABC News,{{Cite web |last=Parkinson|first=John |title=Rep. Ro Khanna eyes anti-corruption agenda amid criticism of Democratic Party |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/rep-ro-khanna-eyes-anti-corruption-agenda-amid/story?id=119637137 |access-date=April 15, 2025 |website=ABC News |date=March 10, 2025|language=en}} and The New York Sun.{{Cite web |date=April 14, 2025 |title=Ro Khanna Tries To Redefine Vance as a Tool of Silicon Valley’s ‘Economic Royalists’ Ahead of 2028 |url=https://www.nysun.com/article/ro-khanna-tries-to-redefine-vance-as-a-tool-of-silicon-valleys-economic-royalists-ahead-of-2028 |access-date=April 15, 2025 |website=The New York Sun |language=en}} In March 2025, in an interview with The New York Times, he did not rule out running for president in 2028.{{Cite news |last=Goldmacher |first=Shane |date=March 27, 2025 |title=The Progressive Congressman Who Wants to Take On JD Vance |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/27/us/politics/ro-khanna-jd-vance-2028.html |access-date=April 15, 2025 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}

Amy Klobuchar has served as a U.S. senator from Minnesota since 2007. A candidate in the 2020 Democratic primaries, NBC News speculated in November 2024 that she may consider another run in 2028. Politico also listed Klobuchar as a potential candidate in December 2024.

Chris Murphy has served as a U.S. senator from Connecticut since 2013. The Democratic senator has been one of the most prominent opponents of President Trump's agenda since the 2024 presidential election. He has focused on and expressed alarm over what he says is the erosion of American democracy and government corruption.{{Cite news |last=Karni |first=Annie |date=February 23, 2025 |title=Chris Murphy Emerges as a Clear Voice for Democrats Countering Trump |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/23/us/politics/chris-murphy-democrats-trump.html |access-date=March 12, 2025 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}{{Cite web |date=March 3, 2025 |title='We have become the party of the status quo': Chris Murphy makes his case to lead Democrats forward |author1=Kamisar, Ben|author2=Tsirkin, Julie|author3=Arenge, Andrew|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/-become-party-status-quo-chris-murphy-makes-case-lead-democrats-forwar-rcna194027 |access-date=March 12, 2025 |website=NBC News |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Cohen |first=David |date=February 9, 2025 |title='Democracies don't last forever,' Chris Murphy warns |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2025/02/09/democracies-chris-murphy-00203265 |access-date=March 12, 2025 |website=Politico |language=en}}{{Cite news |last=Trudo |first=Hannah |date=February 11, 2025 |title=Murphy looks to be guiding force for Democrats in new Trump era |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5136426-sen-chris-murphy-economic-populism-democrats/ |work=The Hill}} NBC News, The Guardian, and The Hill have proposed Murphy as a potential candidate.{{Cite news |last=Smith |first=David |date=December 26, 2024 |title=Who are the rising stars in the Democratic party? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/dec/26/democratic-party-leaders |access-date=February 4, 2025 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}

Gavin Newsom has served as the governor of California since 2019. Newsom has been viewed as a contender for the 2028 presidential election by The Orange County Register,{{cite web|title=Gavin Newsom is Democrats' potential 2028 frontrunner, but can he win?|work=The Orange County Register|url=https://www.ocregister.com/2025/01/05/gavin-newsom-is-democrats-potential-2028-frontrunner-but-can-he-win/|last1=Schoen|first1=Douglas|date=January 5, 2025}} The New York Times,{{Cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/21/us/newsom-california-counties-trump.html |title=Newsom to Visit California's Trump Country: 'Message Received' |date=November 21, 2024 |last=Hubler |first=Shawn |work=The New York Times |access-date=November 22, 2024}}{{Cite news |last=Rosenhall |first=Laurel |date=2025-03-29 |title=California Governor Newsom Says the Democratic Brand Is ‘Toxic’ |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/29/us/politics/newsom-democrats-toxic.html |access-date=2025-04-20 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}} Politico, and The Washington Post after he garnered national attention by December 2023,{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/11/30/gavin-newsom-presidential-race-2028/ |title=Gavin Newsom 2028? His early moves offer a potential glimpse. |date=December 1, 2023 |last=Reston |first=Maeve |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=November 11, 2024}} and he was seen as a potential replacement for Biden after his withdrawal from the 2024 election by The New York Times.{{Cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/article/joe-biden-democrats-nomination-gavin-newsom-whitmer.html |title=Who Will Replace Biden at the Top of the Ticket?|date=June 28, 2024 |last1=Cameron |first1=Chris |last2=Nagourney |first2=Adam |author-link2=Adam Nagourney |work=The New York Times|access-date=November 11, 2024}} According to The New York Times, Newsom was considering a bid for the presidency by September 2023.{{Cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/28/us/politics/newsom-president-biden.html |title=Newsom Is in the Spin Room to Pump Up Biden, and Maybe Himself |date=September 28, 2023 |last=Nagourney|first=Adam |author-link=Adam Nagourney|work=The New York Times |access-date=November 11, 2024}}

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has served as the representative of {{USHR|NY|14}} since 2019. Ocasio-Cortez has been proposed as a potential candidate by many sources.{{Cite web |url=https://www.politico.com/newsletters/new-york-playbook/2024/12/02/aoc-for-prez-talk-begins-again-00192096 |title=AOC for prez talk begins again |date=December 2, 2024 |last=Coltin |first=Jeff |work=Politico |access-date=January 21, 2025}} Politico noted that Ocasio-Cortez "has a prominent following from younger, diverse people".{{Cite web |last1=Wu |first1=Nicholas |last2=Carney |first2=Jordain |last3=Diaz |first3=Daniella |date=December 6, 2024 |title=How AOC says she would approach Democrats' top Oversight job |url=https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2024/12/06/congress/aocs-oversight-pitch-00193045 |access-date=December 6, 2024 |work=Politico}} Pundits for NY1 proposed Ocasio-Cortez would be a "formidable contender" if she decided to make a run for the White House.{{cite web |last1=Chatelain |first1=Ryan |title=Pundits list Democrats they say would be strong presidential contenders in '28 |url=https://ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/politics/2024/11/15/possible-2028-democratic-presidential-candidates |publisher=Spectrum News NY1|access-date=December 13, 2024 |date=November 15, 2024}} Monica Crowley said Ocasio-Cortez enjoyed "real grassroots support" due to her prominence on social media,{{cite news |last1=Lubin |first1=Rhian |title=Democrats and Republicans are already looking to 2028 — here's who's in the running |url=https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/us-politics/presidential-election-2028-democrat-republican-b2672091.html |access-date=December 31, 2024 |work=The Independent |date=January 12, 2025}} while Slate{{'}}s Ben Mathis-Lilley wrote in November 2024 that Ocasio-Cortez "might already have an opening to be the front-runner for the 2028 nomination".{{cite news |last1=Mathis-Liley |first1=Ben |title=Why Not AOC? |url=https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2024/11/2028-democrats-presidential-primary-election-aoc-ocasio-cortez.html |access-date=January 12, 2025 |work=Slate |date=November 13, 2024}} The Hill argued that she had moderated her stances during the presidency of Joe Biden, taking a more centrist approach compared to Sanders.{{Cite news |last=Parnes |first=Amie |date=November 29, 2024 |title=Ranking the Democrats: Here's who the party could nominate next as president |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/5013304-democrats-2028-presidential-contenders/|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250216050113/https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/5013304-democrats-2028-presidential-contenders/|archive-date=February 16, 2025 |access-date=February 22, 2025 |work=The Hill |language=en-US}}

Axios noted in April 2025 that Ocasio-Cortez has been "surging in early polling of potential 2028 presidential candidates".{{Cite web |last=Thompson |first=Alex |date=2025-04-21 |title=AOC seizes the moment as Democrats seek a new identity |url=https://www.axios.com/2025/04/21/aoc-bernie-sanders-progressives-democrats |access-date=2025-04-22 |website=Axios |language=en}} Vanity Fair has reported that Ocasio-Cortez is reluctant to launch a presidential campaign and also noted that some have called for her to primary Chuck Schumer in the 2028 New York Senate elections.{{cite web |title=Bernie Sanders's Anti-oligarchy Tour Is Vindication. But What Is It for Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez? |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/news/story/bernie-sanders-alexandria-ocasio-cortez-anti-oligarchy |publisher=Vanity Fair |access-date=March 29, 2025|author=Smith, Chris|date=March 28, 2025}}

Jon Ossoff has served as a U.S senator from Georgia since 2021. In November 2024, NBC News mentioned him, as well as junior senator Raphael Warnock, as potential contenders for 2028, noting that the two could underscore their ability to succeed electorally in a state thought to be tough for Democrats. In January 2025, The Advocate referred to Ossoff as a potential candidate who could mobilize young and diverse voters in addition to his media savviness and focus on key issues.

JB Pritzker has served as the governor of Illinois since 2019. Pritzker is one of the wealthiest elected officials in America with an estimated net worth of $3.7 billion,{{Cite web |last=McCormick |first=John |title=America’s Second-Richest Elected Official Is Acting Like He Wants to Be President |url=https://www.wsj.com/politics/elections/americas-second-richest-elected-official-is-acting-like-he-wants-to-be-president-8b30efa0 |access-date=2025-04-21 |website=The Wall Street Journal|language=en-US}} and has largely bankrolled his own gubernatorial campaigns, as well as national abortion-rights initiatives.{{Cite web |date=2023-10-18 |title=Illinois Gov. Pritzker takes his fight for abortion access national with a new self-funded group |url=https://apnews.com/article/pritzker-illinois-abortion-access-roe-dark-money-16ab0d498d77a4a9d695cff87211928c |access-date=2025-04-20 |website=AP News |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2024-10-29 |title=Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker accelerates abortion advocacy on eve of the election |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/gov-jb-pritzker-accelerates-abortion-advocacy-ahead-election-rcna177468 |access-date=2025-04-20 |website=NBC News |language=en}} Pritzker was considered a potential running mate to Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election.{{Cite web |last=Spector |first=Zak |date=2024-08-01 |title=Pritzker has had at least 2 vetting interviews as possible running mate for Kamala Harris|work=CBS Chicago |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/pritzker-vetting-interviews-possible-running-mate-kamala-harris/ |access-date=2025-04-20 |language=en-US}} Pritzker is a potential Democratic contender, according to the Chicago Sun-Times,{{Cite web |url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/elections/2024/11/08/pritzker-presidential-run-2028-donald-trump-project-2025 |title=JB Pritzker studies Project 2025 and Trump, ponders his own political future |date=November 8, 2024|last=Sfondeles |first=Tina |work=Chicago Sun-Times |access-date=November 11, 2024}} Bloomberg News,{{Cite news |last=Almeida |first=Isis |date=January 28, 2025 |title=Pritzker Steers Resistance to Trump as ICE Raids Hit Chicago |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-01-28/pritzker-steers-resistance-to-trump-as-ice-raids-blitz-chicago |work=Bloomberg News}} Politico{{Cite web |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2025/01/31/jb-pritzker-january-6-hiring-00201753 |title=Pritzker says Illinois won't hire Jan. 6 rioters |date=January 31, 2025 |last=Kapos |first=Shia |work=Politico |access-date=January 31, 2025}} NBC News,{{Cite web |last=Maragos |first=Alex |date=2025-04-11 |title=Could Illinois Gov. Pritzker be considering a run for president? Reading the signs |url=https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/politics/could-illinois-gov-pritzker-be-considering-a-run-for-president-reading-the-signs/3720695/ |access-date=2025-04-20 |website=NBC Chicago |language=en-US}} and The Wall Street Journal. In 2023, Pritzker declined to speak directly with representative Dean Phillips regarding his effort to try to convince him to enter the Democratic Party presidential primary race to oppose Biden.{{cite web |last1=Hall |first1=Madison |title=A congressman tried to get the governors of Michigan and Illinois to run against Biden in the Democratic primary, but they wouldn't directly take his calls |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/the-governors-of-illinois-and-michigan-ignored-dean-phillips-calls-2023-10 |publisher=Business Insider |access-date=December 7, 2024 |date=October 31, 2023}}{{cite web |last1=Alberta |first1=Tim |title=Dean Phillips Has a Warning for Democrats |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2023/10/dean-phillips-joe-biden-2024-primary/675784/ |access-date=December 7, 2024 |date=October 27, 2023 |publisher=The Atlantic}}

Josh Shapiro, who has served as the governor of Pennsylvania since 2023, has been considered a potential presidential candidate.{{Efn|Attributed to multiple references: {{Cite web |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/gov-josh-shapiro-trump-arson-attack-rcna200907 |title=Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro says he hasn't heard from Trump since the arson attack |date=April 16, 2025 |last1=Terkel |first1=Amanda |last2=Smith |first2=Allan |publisher=NBC News |access-date=April 18, 2025 |quote=The conduct of Shapiro — who is widely discussed as a potential 2028 presidential candidate and was in the running to be Kamala Harris; running mate last year — in assisting with the Butler investigation drew widespread praise, including from Republicans in the state.}}{{Cite web |url=https://apnews.com/article/josh-shapiro-arson-fire-pennsylvania-governor-passover-ae70cd73ccddd6f49a1d017ab7d07784 |title=What to know about Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and the alleged arson at his official residence |date=April 14, 2025 |last1=Levy |first1=Marc |last2=Scolforo |first2=Mark |publisher=Associated Press |access-date=April 18, 2025 |quote=Shapiro, 51, is the first-term governor of the nation's fifth-most populous state, a presidential battleground that has helped make him a rising star in the Democratic Party and viewed as a potential White House contender in 2028.}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2025/04/13/arson-governor-josh-shapiro-residence/ |title=Suspect in custody after arson attack on Pa. governor’s home, police say |date=April 13, 2025 |last=Somasundaram |first=Praveena |work=The Washington Post |access-date=April 18, 2025 |quote=Though he ultimately wasn't selected, Shapiro staunchly supported Harris's campaign with Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and is widely seen as a potential contender in the 2028 presidential race.}}}} Shapiro has been seen as a critical figure in Pennsylvania by Democratic strategists, according to Politico, and as a politician who could garner votes from white working-class voters, according to CNN.{{Cite web |url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/11/10/politics/democrats-election-party-future-voters/index.html |title=Still-stunned Democrats begin to squint toward their future |date=November 10, 2024 |last=Dovere |first=Edward-Isaac |publisher=CNN |access-date=November 11, 2024}} Following the 2024 presidential election, The Philadelphia Inquirer stated that he was the front-runner in the 2028 election.{{Cite web |url=https://www.inquirer.com/politics/election/josh-shapiro-2028-presidential-election-frontrunner-20241107.html |title=Welcome to the 2028 presidential election cycle, where Pa. Gov. Josh Shapiro is a front-runner |date=November 7, 2024 |last=McGoldrick |first=Gilliam |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer |access-date=November 11, 2024}} In March 2025, Shapiro dismissed comments that he could run for president in an interview with Bill Maher on Real Time with Bill Maher.{{Cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2025/03/bill-maher-josh-shapiro-trump-real-time-1236327469/ |title=Bill Maher Couldn’t Get Josh Shapiro To Admit He's Running For President, But PA Governor Sure Tested Out Some Stump Speech Lines On 'Real Time' |date=March 14, 2025 |last=Patten |first=Dominic |work=Deadline Hollywood |access-date=April 18, 2025}} Charles Barkley, a former basketball player, stated on SI Media with Jimmy Traina that Shapiro should run for president.{{Cite web |url=https://www.inquirer.com/politics/charles-barkley-josh-shapiro-stephen-a-smith-president-20250416.html |title=Charles Barkley wants Josh Shapiro to run for president, not Stephen A. Smith |date=April 16, 2025 |last=Tornoe |first=Rob |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer |access-date=April 18, 2025}}

Gretchen Whitmer has served as the governor of Michigan since 2019. Whitmer has been considered a potential presidential candidate.{{Efn|Attributed to multiple references: {{Cite web |url=https://apnews.com/article/governor-gretchen-whitmer-wants-collaboration-with-trump-c66bf6d351c3da69158b8365d4aa5f9a |title=Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a potential 2028 candidate, wants to find common ground with Trump |date=January 15, 2025 |last1=Cappelletti |first1=Joey |last2=Volmert |first2=Isabella |publisher=Associated Press |access-date=March 13, 2025}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/detroit/news/gretchen-whitmer-2025-state-of-the-state-address/ |title=Gov. Gretchen Whitmer lays out vision for Michigan's future in State of the State address |date=February 26, 2025 |last=Buczek |first=Joseph |publisher=CBS News |access-date=March 13, 2025 |quote=As a potential 2028 presidential candidate with a national profile built on advocating for women's rights, Whitmer emphasized that her message was directed "to all young people, but especially to our young men."}}}} According to The New York Times, she is among the "most in-demand Democrats in the battleground states".{{cite news |last=Glueck |first=Katie |date=November 30, 2024 |title=For Rising Democrats, the Quiet Race to Lead the Party Began Months Ago|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/30/us/politics/2028-democrats-whitmer-shapiro-newsom.html |newspaper=The New York Times |access-date=March 10, 2025|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20250103133903/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/30/us/politics/2028-democrats-whitmer-shapiro-newsom.html|archivedate=January 3, 2025}} In an interview on The View in January 2025, Whitmer stated that she "wanted to walk the Earth" after serving her second term.{{Cite web |url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/gov-gretchen-whitmer-discusses-encouraging-131641962.html|title=Gov. Gretchen Whitmer discusses encouraging young leaders in new book |date=January 27, 2025 |publisher=Yahoo News |access-date=March 13, 2025}}

The following individuals stated that they would not run for president:

• John Fetterman, U.S. senator from Pennsylvania (2023–present) and 34th lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania (2019–2023)
• Wes Moore, 63rd governor of Maryland (2023–present) and CEO of the Robin Hood Foundation (2017–2021){{cite web|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/2025/04/07/takeaways-from-gov-wes-moores-sit-down-with-the-baltimore-sun-editorial-board/|title=Takeaways from Gov. Wes Moore’s sit-down with The Baltimore Sun editorial board|last=Janesch|first=Sam|date=April 7, 2025|access-date=April 7, 2025|website=The Baltimore Sun}}
• Michelle Obama, First Lady of the United States (2009–2017){{Cite magazine |last=Wickman |first=Kase |date=March 20, 2025 |title=Michelle Obama Told Kylie Kelce Why She Never Did—And Never Will—Run for President |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/style/story/michelle-obama-kylie-kelce-podcast-white-house-parenting |access-date=March 22, 2025 |magazine=Vanity Fair |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=March 21, 2025 |title=Michelle Obama says Barack wanted a third child and reveals the reason she didn't |url=https://www.the-independent.com/life-style/michelle-obama-barack-children-kylie-kelce-b2719376.html |access-date=March 22, 2025 |website=The Independent |language=en|last1=Werner|first1=Kaleigh}}
• Jared Polis, 43rd governor of Colorado (2019–present) and U.S. representative from {{ushr|CO|2|CO-02}} (2009–2019){{cite news |last1=Fernandez |first1=Madison |title=Jared Polis: DOGE is 'tearing down the old without necessarily having a more efficient way of doing it' |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2025/02/20/doge-jared-polis-criticism-021299 |access-date=February 20, 2025 |work=Politico |date=February 20, 2025 |language=en |quote=When asked whether he was taking the possibility of running for president off the table, Polis responded that it “wasn’t even on the table.”}}
• Bernie Sanders, U.S. senator from Vermont (2007–present), U.S. representative from {{ushr|VT|AL|VT-AL}} (1991–2007), and candidate for president in 2016 and 2020{{efn|Sanders is an independent, but he caucuses with the Democratic Party.}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/21/us/politics/bernie-sanders-iowa-trump.html |title=Bernie Sanders Isn't Giving Up His Fight |date=February 21, 2025 |last=Epstein |first=Reid |work=The New York Times |access-date=February 21, 2025}}{{cite web | last=Kemp | first=Adam | title=Drawing huge crowds, Bernie Sanders emerges as the leader of the anti-Trump resistance | website=PBS News | date=March 10, 2025 | url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/drawing-huge-crowds-bernie-sanders-emerges-as-the-leader-of-the-anti-trump-resistance | access-date=March 16, 2025}}
• Elissa Slotkin, U.S. senator from Michigan (2025–present) and U.S representative from MI-07 (2019–2025){{Cite web |last=Alberta |first=Tim |date=March 5, 2025 |title=The Advice Elissa Slotkin Didn't Take |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2025/03/elissa-slotkin-democratic-resistance/681933/ |access-date=March 15, 2025 |website=The Atlantic |language=en}}

The following individuals stated that they would not run for president:

• Mark Cuban, billionaire businessman, co-owner of the Dallas Mavericks, and co-founder of 2929 Entertainment
• Kyrsten Sinema, U.S. senator from Arizona (2019–2025) and U.S. representative from AZ-09 (2013–2019){{Cite web |last=Everett |first=Burgess |date=December 20, 2024 |title=Kyrsten Sinema: The exit interview |url=https://www.semafor.com/article/12/20/2024/the-kyrsten-sinema-exit-interview |access-date=February 7, 2025 |website=Semafor}}{{efn|Sinema was a registered Democrat until 2022, at which point she continued to caucus with the Senate Democrats as an independent}}

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United States presidential election, 2028

Category:Second presidency of Donald Trump