After a chaotic 2024 presidential season that ended with President-elect Donald Trump defeating Vice President Kamala Harris, attention is turning to the 2028 contenders.
Trump will be ineligible to run for another term after he finishes a second term in 2028, and President Joe Biden’s tenure comes to an end when he leaves office next month, meaning both parties will not have an incumbent leader who could block ambitious politicians.
Lawmakers on both political sides are already waiting in the wings to become their party’s standard-bearers as they build out their portfolios in the meantime.
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Here are the top contenders for both Democrats and Republicans.
Vice President-elect JD Vance
Trump’s running mate could be in the best position to lead the GOP in the next four years, provided he remains in good standing with the president-elect. Former Vice President Mike Pence’s falling out with Trump doomed his 2024 presidential run.
Vance could be tapped with a career-enhancing portfolio when he is sworn in as vice president on Jan. 20, 2025, in stark contrast to Harris, who was given tough topics such as stemming illegal immigration at the southern border while serving as vice president.
Plus, at 40 years old, Vance has the benefit of age in his favor, a concern that reared its head throughout the 2024 cycle.
“If you were to ask me who the nominee will be in 2028, it’ll be J.D. Vance,” outgoing Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT) told CNN’s State of the Union this month.
Vice President Kamala Harris
Despite losing the 2024 election, Harris could spend the next four years laying out the groundwork for a second run in 2028, similar to how Hillary Clinton kept focused after losing the 2008 primary to then-candidate Barack Obama and then running again in 2016.
Her ability to raise a billion dollars during this cycle proves that Harris has fundraising prowess, with many Democrats pinning the vice president’s loss not on Harris but on Biden’s late exit from the race.
However, Harris could run for California governor if she decided a second presidential run isn’t in her favor.
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Republican governors
Several GOP governors are in prime position to challenge Vance and any other lawmaker during the presidential primary.
Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) seemed left for dead after losing the primary to Trump in January, but after patching up their relationship, the Florida governor could likely decide to run for president.
“I haven’t ruled anything out,” DeSantis said in a private conversation that was leaked to the media in February.
Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R-VA) has long been considered a presidential contender after flipping Virginia red in 2021. Like DeSantis, he is term-limited from running for governor, meaning if he wanted a higher office, the White House could be an option.
Gov. Brian Kemp (R-GA) is a popular executive in a battleground state. He also had a complicated relationship with Trump, but in the run-up to the 2024 election, the two men seemed to set aside their differences. Should Georgia flip a Senate seat red in 2026, it could also propel Kemp to seek a presidential run.
Other possible governors who may enter the race include Govs. Greg Abbott (R-TX) and Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R-AR), both of whom are staunch conservatives with a history of backing Trump.
Democratic governors
Even before Biden bowed out of the race, paving the way for Harris, Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) was accused of running a shadow presidential campaign. Newsom, unlike other Democrats, appeared on Fox News repeatedly, even agreeing to a debate against DeSantis moderated by host Sean Hannity.
The California governor has already geared up to battle against a second Trump term, as have other governors who could run in 2028.
“We know their playbook. We know what they’re going to do,” Newsom said days after Trump won the election.
Govs. Gretchen Whitmer (D-MI), J.B. Pritzker (D-IL), Andy Beshear (D-KY), Roy Cooper (D-NC), and Josh Shapiro (D-PA) were all diligent campaign surrogates for Harris that could help bolster their credentials if they decide to run.
Whitmer, Cooper, and Shapiro are also all popular chief executives of battleground states that went for Trump, proving their ability to appeal to independents and some Republicans. Cooper could decide instead to run for North Carolina’s open Senate seat in 2026.
Beshear is a two-term Democratic governor in the solidly red state of Kentucky, which could help make his case to a U.S. electorate that swung conservative in 2024, while Pritzker is another solidly anti-Trump leader who could appeal to Democrats eager to move on from the Trump era.
Possible Trump Cabinet contenders
At least three past and future Trump Cabinet members could likely take a shot at the White House in 2028.
Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley was the last GOP candidate before Trump locked down the primary nomination in March. Although she has not been invited back to a second Trump administration, she could still launch another run four years from now.
Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) has not yet been confirmed as secretary of state, but he already has bipartisan support and is expected to sail through. This could give him the portfolio and gravitas to seek another chance at the White House after he lost the 2016 primary to Trump.
Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) is awaiting confirmation as Trump’s ambassador to the U.N., but after several victories following college presidents stepping down due to pro-Palestinian protests, she could have the background for higher office.
“Elise will do whatever her ambition takes her,” said Jay Townsend, a political consultant.
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Democratic Cabinet members
Besides Harris, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg could be another Biden Cabinet member seeking higher office.
Buttigieg has remained in the spotlight after losing the 2020 primary to Biden and joining his Cabinet, and now, he could even run for Michigan’s gubernatorial race in 2026 to replace Whitmer.
The transportation secretary moved to Traverse City and said he hasn’t made a decision on whether he will seek the governor’s mansion or try another presidential run.
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“I love this job, but it is very 24/7, so I’m ready to catch my breath. I’m ready to spend more time with our kids. I have not made any big life decisions, and I won’t until I’ve had a little more time,” he told USA Today.
Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo is another possible dark horse contender in 2028. However, there are reports she may seek another term as Rhode Island governor.
