The November 2026 midterms are over, and attention is turning toward the race to replace Donald Trump in 2028. No major Democrat or Republican has officially declared a presidential campaign, but several politicians are already positioning themselves. Democrats face a wide-open contest, while Vice President JD Vance is emerging as the leading Republican possibility.
Democratic Party
Gavin Newsom – California governor.
Kamala Harris – Former vice president and 2024 Democratic presidential nominee.
Pete Buttigieg – Former transportation secretary and 2020 presidential candidate.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez – New York congresswoman and progressive leader.
Andy Beshear – Kentucky governor.
Josh Shapiro – Pennsylvania governor.
JB Pritzker – Illinois governor.
Gretchen Whitmer – Michigan governor.
Raphael Warnock – Georgia senator, who recently hinted at a 2028 run for high office.
Jon Ossoff – Georgia senator, increasingly discussed as a possible contender.
Cory Booker – New Jersey senator.
Wes Moore – Maryland governor.
Republican Party
JD Vance – Vice president and the early favorite to succeed Trump.
Marco Rubio – Secretary of State, although he has said he does not plan to challenge Vance.
Ron DeSantis – Florida governor.
Ted Cruz – Texas senator.
Sarah Huckabee Sanders – Arkansas governor.
Brian Kemp – Georgia governor.
Donald Trump Jr. – Businessman and political figure.
Tucker Carlson – Conservative commentator, mentioned as a possible contender.
A few things to watch: Vance versus Rubio on the Republican side, and Newsom versus Harris versus AOC on the Democratic side. Warnock and Ossoff are two names worth watching after the midterms.
Important: This is an early list of possible contenders, not an official candidate list. The major candidates have not formally entered the race.
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