The question of who'll lead the Republican Party in 2028 is no longer a far-off hypothetical. Even with President Trump still dominating the party, a range of figures — from loyal allies to former rivals to next-generation conservatives — are beginning to position themselves for what comes next.
Some are familiar faces, including Trump, though questions linger about whether a return is even possible. Others, like Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, are quietly building donor networks and expanding their national reach, while South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott has stepped into a higher-profile role. Meanwhile, Secretary of State Marco Rubio is generating growing buzz as he juggles multiple roles within the administration — serving not only as the nation’s top diplomat but also as acting national security adviser, acting USAID administrator, and acting archivist.
Taken together, the early jockeying reflects a broader question facing the GOP: whether its future will be defined by continuity with Trump’s movement or a shift in direction.
While the field remains fluid, the outlines are beginning to come into focus. Here’s a look at who’s emerging — and where they stand.
Which Republicans will run for president in 2028?
President Donald Trump
President Trump has gone from saying he probably wouldn’t run for a third term to openly entertaining the idea. He’s even touted “Trump 2028” MAGA-style hats to White House visitors and floated the idea at rallies.
“Maybe we do one more term. Should we do one more?” he said at a Feb. 27 event in Texas, drawing cheers from the crowd. “Well, we’re entitled to it because they cheated like hell in the second one.”
His comments have reignited a largely symbolic effort in Congress. A proposed resolution, H.J.Res.29, would raise the presidential term limit from two to three. But amending the Constitution remains a high bar, requiring a two-thirds vote in both chambers and ratification by three-fourths of the states.
Still, his repeated references to a third term aren’t entirely trivial, as he continues to test the bounds of presidential power in ways few modern presidents have.
Vice President JD Vance
At the moment, Vice President JD Vance is widely seen as a potential future leader of the MAGA movement, though he often sidesteps questions about his own political ambitions. In the meantime, he’s emerged as a key player in Trump’s orbit — serving as a liaison to the Senate and helping shepherd Cabinet nominees through confirmation, drawing on his relationships from his time representing Ohio.
He’s also taken on a visible role in advancing some of Trump’s priorities, including the administration’s crackdown on what the president has described as widespread fraud tied to immigration.
Early indicators suggest he could have staying power. In a YouGov poll last year, Vance topped the list of potential 2028 candidates among Republicans. At 41 — one of the youngest vice presidents in U.S. history — he could remain a force in GOP politics for years to come.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio
There's been a noticeable uptick in support for Trump’s Secretary of State Marco Rubio among Republicans — enough that some in the party have begun quietly floating a potential “draft Rubio” effort for 2028. According to ABC News, Trump has even asked a group of donors whether they would prefer Rubio or Vance as the party’s next standard-bearer — a dynamic that echoes his habit of pitting allies against one another.
Rubio is no stranger to presidential politics. He ran in the 2016 Republican primary, positioning himself as a younger, establishment-friendly alternative before ultimately dropping out after losing his home state to Trump.
These days, he has publicly deferred on his campaign ambitions. “If JD Vance runs for president, he’s going to be our nominee,” he told Vanity Fair last year. “And I’ll be one of the first people to support him.”
Still, not everyone is convinced that Rubio would ultimately step aside. “Vance and Rubio are the one-two punch of the Republican universe,” GOP strategist Stan Barnes told The Washington Post. “I do not think anyone else can compete.”
Part of Rubio’s appeal is the breadth of his influence inside the administration: Alongside leading the State Department, he has taken on additional national security responsibilities and played a central role in shaping U.S. foreign policy — from Middle East diplomacy to Venezuela.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis
He's a potential contender in 2028, though early polling places Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis behind other figures. In a 2025 YouGov survey of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents, he ranked second: 40 percent of respondents said they would consider voting for him in a primary, compared to 65 percent for Vance.
Once seen as Trump’s strongest rival in 2024, DeSantis challenged the president in the Republican primaries but ultimately struggled to assemble support. He has continued to maintain a presence on Fox News and at conservative events, positioning himself as a policy-focused, culture-war conservative on issues like immigration, education, and restrictions on gender-affirming care.
His term as governor also ends in 2027, giving him time to regroup and potentially build momentum for another presidential run.
Texas Sen. Ted Cruz
Among Senate Republicans, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz is one of the most closely watched potential presidential contenders. A leading candidate for the Republican nomination in 2016, he ultimately finished as the runner-up to Trump, emerging as one of his last major rivals in the primary.
Since then, Cruz has reestablished himself as a reliable ally of the president, aligning closely with the party’s right flank and maintaining a strong presence in conservative media, including through his podcast, Verdict with Ted Cruz. He also retains a formidable small-dollar fundraising network and is continuing to court major donors: According to Axios, he’s planning to host a donor retreat next year.
While he has emerged as an outspoken supporter of Trump’s airstrikes targeting Iran, past and occasional policy differences — including over tariffs and free speech — could complicate a potential path forward in a future primary. For now, he remains a seasoned contender with an established political operation, though not necessarily at the center of the party’s next generation of leadership.
South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott
Having remained a visible national figure since his 2024 presidential bid, South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott's profile has been bolstered by his ongoing role within the party. As chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, he has used the position to travel extensively and build relationships with donors — a key step in laying the groundwork for a potential future campaign.
Scott has long positioned himself as an optimistic, forward-looking conservative, emphasizing economic opportunity, faith, and unity — a tone that sets him apart from some of the party’s more combative figures. At the same time, his close ties to Trump and the broader Republican establishment have helped him remain a visible and well-connected figure in GOP politics.
For now, he remains a recognizable name with a growing donor network, though it’s unclear whether he can break through in a field increasingly shaped by Trump-aligned candidates.
Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul
He's carving out a distinct lane within the Republican field: Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul has positioned himself as a deficit hawk, and one of the party’s most outspoken critics of government spending. He forcefully opposed Trump’s sweeping tax and spending bill — which is projected to add more than $3 trillion to the national deficit — and was one of just three GOP senators to vote against it.
Paul mounted an unsuccessful bid in 2016 and has maintained a national presence, particularly among libertarian-leaning conservatives. In recent months, he has stepped up his travel to early primary states, making stops in Iowa and South Carolina and planning a visit to New Hampshire this fall — a sign he may be laying the groundwork for another run.
While his willingness to break with Trump on fiscal issues sets him apart, it could also put him at odds with a party still largely aligned with the president.
Former Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem
She's been floated as a potential 2028 contender, particularly among Republicans looking for a candidate with experience leading both a state and a federal agency. As governor of South Dakota, former Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem rose to national prominence during the Covid-19 pandemic for her resistance to lockdowns and other public health mandates, positioning herself as a champion of personal freedom and limited government.
Noem also has strong ties to Trump, aligning herself closely with many of his signature policy priorities, including stricter immigration enforcement and efforts to curb crossings at the U.S.-Mexico border. When nominating her, Trump praised Noem as “very strong on border security,” highlighting her decision to deploy South Dakota National Guard troops to Texas and casting her as a loyal ally who would help advance his immigration agenda and “secure the border.”
But her tenure in Washington — followed by her reassignment as a special envoy for the administration’s “Shield of the Americas” initiative — has drawn scrutiny, with critics pointing to hardline immigration policies and enforcement practices, as well as reports of a rise in deaths during that period, including reports involving two U.S. citizens.
For now, she remains a recognizable name with a clear political brand — but not a top-tier contender in an increasingly crowded field.
Donald Trump Jr.
As the president’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr. has understandably become a prominent figure within Republican politics — particularly among supporters of his father’s movement — building a sizable following through media appearances and campaign activity.
He has also occasionally hinted at a future run. During an appearance at Bloomberg’s Qatar Economic Forum last year, Trump Jr. laughed off the idea at first before signaling some openness to eventually succeeding his father.
“I don’t know, maybe one day — that calling is there,” he said at the time. “I think my father has truly changed the Republican Party. I think it’s the America First party now, the MAGA party, however you want to look at it.”
Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
A major, albeit deeply polarizing, figure within the Republican Party, Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. certainly has name recognition.
His handling of public health issues has faced sharp criticism, including from six former U.S. Surgeons General who warned that his actions pose a “profound, immediate and unprecedented threat” to Americans. Despite tense confirmation hearings and ongoing scrutiny, Trump has stood by him — calling the former Democrat a “different kind of guy” while increasingly echoing skepticism around immunization.
Kennedy, meanwhile, has built a loyal following around his “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) movement, giving him a distinct base, even if it hasn’t yet translated into broad establishment support.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth
As a former Fox News host and Army veteran, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth brings a blend of messaging discipline and national security credibility — a combination that could resonate with a Republican primary electorate still prioritizing loyalty to Trump and defense issues.
But his tenure at the Pentagon has been marked by turbulence, including the accidental sharing of sensitive military plans on the encrypted messaging app Signal, along with reports of staff turnover and internal tensions. Together, these issues have drawn scrutiny and raised questions about his leadership.
Beyond that, he also lacks some of the traditional markers of a viable candidate. He has never held elected office, having lost a 2012 Senate bid in Minnesota, and does not have a clear political base or donor network, factors that could make a White House bid a steep climb.
Other names in the mix
A number of state-level officials and political newcomers are also seen as possible entrants into a future Republican primary. That includes Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, and Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders — all of whom bring executive experience and have built national profiles within the party.
Tech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, who gained traction during the 2024 presidential primary, also remains a name to watch, particularly among voters drawn to outsider candidates and business-oriented messaging.
While none are currently at the center of the 2028 conversation, their positions and visibility could allow them to quickly gain ground in a shifting field.
