Who Are Presidential Candidates: The 2028 Field Exploded Early

Honestly, it feels like the 2024 election never actually ended. We’re barely into January 2026, and yet the question of who are presidential candidates for the next cycle is already the only thing anyone in Washington wants to talk about. Most people think the race starts a year before the vote. They’re wrong. It started the second the last ballots were tallied.

The 2028 cycle is shaping up to be a total free-for-all. Since Donald Trump is currently serving his second term, the 22nd Amendment says he’s out after this (despite some chatter from his hardcore base about "alternatives"). That means for the first time in a while, we might have two completely open primaries. No incumbent president running for reelection. Just a massive, chaotic scramble for power.

The Republican Frontrunners and the Trump Legacy

On the GOP side, things are kinda weird. You have a sitting Vice President, JD Vance, who basically has the pole position. He’s been the chief fundraiser for the party heading into the 2026 midterms, and honestly, the early polling shows it. According to a YouGov survey from late last year, about 44% of Republicans already see him as their ideal 2028 nominee. That’s a huge head start.

But it’s not just Vance.

• Marco Rubio: The current Secretary of State has been making moves. Trump even called a potential Vance-Rubio ticket "unstoppable" last year.
• Ron DeSantis: He’s still there, lingering with about 8% support in early polls. People haven’t forgotten him, but he’s definitely lost some of that 2022-era magic.
• The "Family" Factor: Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr. are constantly brought up. Don Jr. actually pulls double-digit support in some "ideal candidate" surveys, which tells you exactly where the base’s heart is.

Then you have the "establishment" or "outsider" types who are still testing the waters. We’re talking about Nikki Haley, who still has a sliver of support, and Vivek Ramaswamy. Vivek is actually busy running for Governor in Ohio right now, but everyone knows he’s got his eye on a bigger prize.

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The Democratic Civil War for 2028

If you think the Republican side is settled, the Democratic side is a total mess—in a fascinating way. There is no clear leader. None. Kamala Harris is still a massive figure, of course. She’s been touring swing states to promote her book about the 2024 campaign. But the polls aren't exactly a slam dunk for her.

Gavin Newsom is the name that keeps popping up. The California Governor is "light years ahead" in terms of visibility, according to some analysts. He just won a major legislative battle in California (Prop 50) and is releasing a memoir in February 2026. If a politician releases a memoir two years before an election, they aren't doing it because they love writing. They’re running.

The Governor Brigade

It’s not just Newsom. A whole group of Democratic governors are basically auditioning for the role of "Trump-Fighter-in-Chief."

1. JB Pritzker (Illinois): He’s been using a "media blitz" strategy, constantly needling the Trump administration on everything from immigration to federal funding. He’s got the money to go the distance, too.
2. Josh Shapiro (Pennsylvania): He’s much more careful. He won’t even say if he’s running for reelection as governor, let alone president, but he’s also dropping a memoir in February.
3. Wes Moore (Maryland): A rising star who already has a bestselling book and a lot of charismatic energy that makes people think "Obama-era" vibes.

Who Are Presidential Candidates from the "Wildcard" Deck?

Every cycle has them. The people who make you go, "Wait, really?"

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Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) is the big one here. She recently shared a poll showing her beating JD Vance in a hypothetical matchup. She’s starting 2026 with high-profile speeches and a massive fundraising base. While the party "establishment" might be nervous, her support among younger voters is basically unmatched.

Then you have the celebrities. Mark Cuban and Stephen A. Smith are names that Ballotpedia and other trackers still list as "potential public figures." It sounds like a joke until you remember who the current president is. In a world of 24/7 social media, fame is a currency that sometimes beats political experience.

The Independent List is Already Huge

You might be surprised to learn that dozens of people have already filed paperwork with the FEC. Most of them aren't "noteworthy" yet, but names like Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (currently in the cabinet) and Tulsi Gabbard (Director of National Intelligence) are still hovering around the 2028 conversation as potential disruptors or third-party threats if they feel slighted by the main parties.

Why 2026 Actually Matters for 2028

You might wonder why we’re talking about who are presidential candidates so early. The reason is the 2026 midterms. This year is the "audition."

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If Josh Shapiro helps Democrats win big in Pennsylvania this November, his stock goes up. If JD Vance raises hundreds of millions for GOP House candidates and they keep the majority, he’s basically untouchable.

The candidates are currently "covertly courting" donors. Jay Townsend, a long-time political consultant, recently noted that the "talented and smart" are already in a mad rush to lock down influential backers. If you wait until 2027 to start raising money, you’ve already lost.

Actionable Insights for Following the Race

If you want to stay ahead of the curve and not just react to the headlines, here is what you should actually watch over the next six months:

• Watch the Book Tours: When Newsom and Shapiro drop their books in February, look at where they go. If they spend a lot of time in South Carolina, New Hampshire, or Iowa, they are 100% running.
• Monitor the FEC Filings: You can check the Federal Election Commission website directly. While many "fringe" candidates file early, look for "Leadership PACs." That’s where the real money for a presidential run is hidden.
• Track the "Feuds": Watch who the Trump administration attacks on social media. Trump is a kingmaker. If he focuses his fire on JB Pritzker or Gavin Newsom, he is effectively choosing his opponents for the next four years.
• The 22nd Amendment Debates: Keep an ear out for any legal challenges or "resolutions" in Congress regarding term limits. While it’s unlikely to change, the mere discussion of it will tell you how much the Republican field is willing to defer to the current president.

The list of who are presidential candidates will change. Some will flame out by the summer of 2026. Others, currently unknown, will catch fire during the midterm campaigns. But the foundation of the 2028 election is being poured right now, in the snows of January 2026. Keep your eyes on the governors—they are the ones with the most to gain and the most to lose.