Ranking the 2028 GOP Presidential Contenders

According to Rokna, citing The Washington Post, most of the candidates in this list are among President Donald Trump’s closest allies, but a non-MAGA contender could still emerge.

Who will assume leadership after President Trump departs the White House? The Republican Party will soon confront this question — if it hasn’t already. Following nearly a decade of Trump’s dominance and reshaping of conservatism, it is clear that the next Republican leader will likely need to uphold MAGA principles.

Here is an early look at how the field for the 2028 Republican primaries is shaping up. The list leaves room for surprises, as some strategists have noted that, at this stage of the 2024 campaign, Republicans were growing disenchanted with Trump.

Top Contenders

Vice President JD Vance: Vance has not made many moves to distinguish himself from Trump. He has defended the administration’s policies, even when it meant reversing some of his prior positions. He has been at the forefront of battles with Democrats, including the government shutdown and confronting critics of conservative activist Charlie Kirk following Kirk’s death, part of a campaign opponents called a crackdown on free speech.

Republican voters appear to respond positively: In a September YouGov poll, he led the list of 2028 candidates they might consider voting for. At 41, he is the youngest candidate in this lineup and one of the youngest vice presidents in U.S. history, suggesting a potentially long future in Republican politics.

Marco Rubio: Trump’s former secretary of state has overseen major international events, including the Gaza peace talks, strikes on Iran (which initially upset some of Trump’s base), and controversial foreign aid reductions. Rubio is not at the top of voters’ minds in early 2028 polls, but Trump frequently names him as a potential successor: “Marco’s great,” Trump said, adding of both Vance and Rubio: “I’m not sure anyone would run against these two. If they joined forces, they would be unstoppable.”

Middle Tier Candidates

Donald Trump Jr.: The eldest son of Trump has never held public office but serves as an adviser and close confidant to his father. He is positioning himself as the legitimate heir to the MAGA movement, saying of his potential candidacy: “That calling is there. My father has truly changed the Republican Party. It’s now the America First party, the MAGA party, however you want to look at it.”

Ron DeSantis: The socially conservative, fiery Republican governor of Florida is another candidate Republicans might consider for the primaries. He ran against Trump in 2024 and remains a regular presence on conservative media and events. His term as Florida governor ends in 2027, requiring him to build momentum for a presidential run while outside public office.

Ted Cruz: The Texas senator was the last major candidate standing against Trump in the 2016 GOP nomination race. He has since aligned closely with Trump but continues to differentiate himself in subtle ways, criticizing threats against late-night host Jimmy Kimmel over protected speech as “dangerous” and cautioning against some of Trump’s tariff policies and ambassadorial picks.

Dark Horse Candidates

Trump himself? Trump has stated he would “love to” run for a third term. However, he is constitutionally barred from serving more than two terms. Even if he sought to challenge the Constitution, he might not have the support of some of his most loyal congressional allies. Additionally, his 2024 victory made him the oldest elected president; he will be 82 in 2028. Nonetheless, his comments about another term cannot be completely dismissed, given his efforts to consolidate presidential power in ways unseen in modern U.S. history.

Kristi L. Noem: Trump considered Noem for the vice presidency when she was governor of South Dakota. She currently heads the Department of Homeland Security, overseeing his mass deportation policies, one of his most controversial initiatives. Noem has toured Salvadoran megaprison facilities where alleged gang members were sent without due process. “If you’re here illegally, you’re next,” she has said. She is also widely known for a national controversy surrounding the fatal shooting of a family dog.

Trump’s Second Term

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.: Trump’s contentious former health secretary has stirred debates over U.S. public health, alongside former surgeons general who served in his administration.