Who will run for president in 2028
Executive summary
No definitive roster of major-party nominees for 2028 exists as of early 2026; dozens of individuals have filed with the FEC but major figures have largely not declared, leaving the field a mix of formal registrants and media-discussed possible entrants [1] [2]. Reporting and polling identify a short list of frequently mentioned Democratic and Republican prospects, but markets, governors’ activity and party dynamics will reshape who actually runs [3] [4] [5].
1. The formal but partial list: who has filed so far
A technical list of people who have registered with the Federal Election Commission for the 2028 presidential cycle exists and is tracked by Ballotpedia and the FEC, and while that registry includes many names it does not equate to a serious, declared campaign from a major-party standard-bearer [1] [6] [7]. Historical patterns show that many candidates file early or nominally; Ballotpedia cautions that filing is a threshold step tied to fundraising rules, not proof of a competitive campaign [1] [2].
2. Democrats: names repeatedly floated — and why they matter
Media coverage consistently highlights figures such as California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Vice President Kamala Harris, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio‑Cortez, and a slate of governors and senators as potential Democratic contenders, noting travel to early states, book tours and rising favorability as signaling tools [8] [4] [9]. Polling shows Newsom polling strongly among Democrats in some surveys and increasing name recognition, while outlets note Ocasio‑Cortez’s fundraising strength but also her reported reluctance to run and competing options like a 2028 Senate contest [3] [9] [8]. Politico and The Guardian emphasize that no obvious consensus standard-bearer has emerged, and that governors and outside-the-Beltway executives are jockeying for profile ahead of potential entries [4] [8].
3. Republicans: an unsettled center with market signals
On the Republican side, polling and market platforms point to a mix of Trump-aligned figures and alternative options; YouGov found Republican respondents naming candidates like J.D. Vance, Donald Trump Jr., and Ron DeSantis among top preferences in fall 2025 surveys, while political coverage warns of polarizing favorability for some frontrunners [3] [4]. Prediction markets such as Polymarket and Kalshi are already trading on the ultimate winner, reflecting bettors’ aggregated expectations but not formal announcements [5] [10]. News coverage underscores that intra-party dynamics after 2026 midterms will influence whether the GOP coalesces around a Trump-era heir or pivots to new personalities [4].
4. Early indicators to watch that will determine the actual field
Three practical measures will define who runs: FEC filings and fundraising thresholds, polling and favorability trends in early states, and strategic moves by governors and party organizations such as the Democratic Governors Association that can amplify executive profiles — all of which reporters cite as already shaping 2028 speculation [6] [11] [4]. Data sites and interactive maps track state-level pathways to 270 electoral votes and will shape candidate strategy; meanwhile, YouGov and other pollsters provide early snapshots of who voters would consider, which media outlets use to frame “likely” entrants [11] [3].
5. The honest answer: who will run — and the limits of current reporting
At this stage, there is no authoritative answer naming the final set of major-party candidates for 2028: many names are discussed by media, some have filed with the FEC, and polls and markets project favorites, but none of those sources can definitively say who will mount full, competitive campaigns through the primaries [2] [1] [5]. Reporting from The Guardian, Politico, Wikipedia summaries and polling outlets together sketch a probable list of contenders to watch — Newsom, Harris, AOC among Democrats; Vance, DeSantis, Trump-aligned figures among Republicans — but the field remains fluid and contingent on decisions, fundraising, and the political trajectory after the 2026 midterms [8] [4] [3].