
2028 Presidential election candidates: Full list of Republican hopefuls eyeing the White House
JD Vance of Ohio is widely viewed as Trump's political heir. As a key member of Trump's administration, he enters the 2028 conversation in a commanding position. Republican voters see him as closely aligned with Trump's agenda.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio is reemerging as a contender. Despite past criticism of Trump, Rubio is now seen as a loyal team player. His prior run in 2016 — where he placed third in Iowa — gives him built-in name recognition and a base of support in early states.
Sen. Ted Cruz, who won Iowa in 2016 and finished second to Trump in that cycle, has remained politically active. He has maintain a high profile and kept the door open for another run. Cruz would bring experience, conservative credentials, and a national network to the race.
A growing group of Republican governors could shake up the race:
Glenn Youngkin (Virginia): With his term ending soon due to Virginia's one-term limit, Youngkin will soon be a free agent. His 2021 win in a blue-leaning state makes him a compelling post-Trump option.
Sarah Huckabee Sanders (Arkansas): As Trump's former press secretary and now governor, Sanders remains a prominent voice in GOP politics. Her deep ties to Trump's base could make her a formidable contender.
Brian Kemp (Georgia): Despite past tensions with Trump over the 2020 election, Kemp has remained a strong conservative leader and now chairs the Republican Governors Association — giving him donor access and national exposure.
Ron DeSantis (Florida): After a failed 2024 run, DeSantis appears to have mended fences with Trump. His continued focus on hardline immigration policies and prior campaign infrastructure make him a likely 2028 candidate.
Greg Abbott (Texas): Another governor closely aligned with Trump's immigration agenda, Abbott may leverage Texas' electoral heft to stake a claim in the race.
Several sitting Republican senators are also being watched:
Tim Scott (South Carolina): After his 2024 campaign, Scott ended with stronger ties to Trump, though questions remain about his ability to campaign for himself rather than Trump's ideas.
Rand Paul (Kentucky) and Rick Scott (Florida): Both have been active in early primary states and continue to promote fiscally conservative policies.
Josh Hawley (Missouri) and Tom Cotton (Arkansas): These senators remain on watch lists for their conservative positions and willingness to engage in national debates.
As 2028 approaches, the Republican field is likely to grow, but early signs point to Vance, Rubio, DeSantis, and Youngkin as leading figures in a post-Trump GOP — each vying to define the party's future without its longtime standard-bearer.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Hindustan Times
29 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Gold steady amid Trump's 100% tariff threat on chip imports and trade tensions
Gold held a moderate loss, as traders looked past uncertainty created by US President Donald Trump's latest trade moves, including threatening a 100% tariff on chip imports. Traders also watched for Trump's nomination within days of a temporary Federal Reserve governor who is expected to be more aligned with his agenda to ease monetary policy.(AFP File Photo) Bullion was steady around $3,370 an ounce after a 0.3% decline in the previous session. This came after Trump said he would impose a 100% levy on semiconductor imports in a bid to force companies to move production back to the US. Meanwhile, relations with key trade partners soured, with the US leader doubling the tariff on Indian goods to 50% over the South Asian country's continued purchases of energy from Russia. Japan may also face higher duties than agreed last month on some products, Kyodo reported. Traders also watched for Trump's nomination within days of a temporary Federal Reserve governor who is expected to be more aligned with his agenda to ease monetary policy. Lower rates benefit gold, which doesn't yield interest. The precious metal's recent rally has been driven by rising expectation of rate cuts. Central bank buying and a broad trend of diversifying away from US dollar-denominated assets have also offered support. It's climbed nearly 30% this year, though the bulk of its gains happened in the first four months, as geopolitical and trade tensions rattled the market. Gold was 0.1% higher at $3,373.45 an ounce as of 8:42 a.m. in Singapore. The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index was steady. Silver, palladium and platinum all rose.

Time of India
29 minutes ago
- Time of India
Big U.S.-India Escalation: Trump Threatens SANCTIONS After 50% Tariffs Over Russia Oil
Brazil's Big BRICS Snub At Trump Over Tariff War, Nikki Haley Warns US Not To Burn Bridge With India In a stunning diplomatic twist, Brazilian President Lula da Silva has refused to call US President Donald Trump amidst a growing trade war. While Trump imposed a crushing 50% tariff on Brazilian imports and threatened similar action on India, Lula declared that he would instead reach out to Indian PM Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Lula called the tariff day "the most regrettable" in Brazil-US ties and hinted at coordinated BRICS retaliation. India, too, faces tariff threats from Trump over Russian oil purchases. Meanwhile, Nikki Haley warned Trump against alienating India while soft-pedaling on China. As Trump dismisses BRICS as "fading fast," the bloc's symbolic banknote launch and anti-dollar stance suggest a global realignment, with India at its center. The global trade game is shifting, and New Delhi is no longer a silent player.#lula #donaldtrump #trumptariffs #brics #bricsbanknote #modi #xijinping #putin #nikkihaley #indianews #brazilnews #globaltradewar #usindia #usbrasil #russianoil #chinaus #wto #geopolitics #modigovernment #usforeignpolicy #trendingnow #india #breakingnews #trending #bharat #toi #toibharat #indianews 6.1K views | 20 hours ago


Indian Express
29 minutes ago
- Indian Express
UCLA says Trump administration froze $584 million of its federal funding
President Donald Trump's administration has frozen $584 million in federal funding for the University of California, Los Angeles, UCLA said on Wednesday after the government reprimanded the university over pro-Palestinian protests. The Trump administration has threatened to cut federal funds for universities over pro-Palestinian protests against US ally Israel's war in Gaza. The government alleges universities, including UCLA, allowed antisemitism during the protests. Large demonstrations took place at UCLA last year. Protesters, including some Jewish groups, say the government wrongly equates their criticism of Israel's military assault in Gaza and its occupation of Palestinian territories with antisemitism, and their advocacy for Palestinian rights with support for extremism. 'Currently, a total of approximately $584 million in extra-mural award funding is suspended and at risk,' UCLA Chancellor Julio Frenk said in an update on the university website. University of California President James Milliken separately said the institution agreed to have talks with the federal government to restore its funding. Milliken said funding 'cuts do nothing to address antisemitism.' The White House had no immediate comment. Last week, UCLA agreed to pay over $6 million to settle a lawsuit by some students and a professor who alleged antisemitism. It was also sued this year over a 2024 violent mob attack on pro-Palestinian protesters at the height of the campus protest movement. The government has in recent weeks settled its probes with Columbia University, which agreed to pay over $220 million, and Brown University, which said it will pay $50 million. Both institutions accepted certain government demands. Talks to settle with Harvard University are ongoing. Rights advocates have raised concerns about academic freedom and free speech. The government has also attempted to deport foreign student protesters but faced judicial roadblocks. Stanford University's student-run newspaper sued the Trump administration on Wednesday, saying student writers censored themselves and turned down assignments related to Gaza to avoid being targeted for deportation. Rights advocates have noted a rise in antisemitism, anti-Arab bias and Islamophobia due to the war. The Trump administration has not announced equivalent probes into Islamophobia.