• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

2028 Presidential Election

While a final field had yet to emerge for the 2028 presidential election, in 2025 polls and analysis suggest that several key Republicans are potential leading candidates. As the current vice president, J.D. Vance was seen by many as the most likely to inherit the mantle of the party. Other prominent figures, including Donald Trump Jr. and other 2024 primary contenders, also remain subjects of speculation.

• J.D. Vance: As the current Vice President, Vance is the most frequently cited frontrunner for the 2028 Republican nomination. He has polled well in early surveys and is widely viewed as a successor to the Trump wing of the party. President Trump has also publicly mentioned Vance as a potential successor, although he has stated it is too early to endorse anyone. As the most obvious successor, Vice President Vance's fundraising and public appearances over the next few years will be closely watched.
• Donald Trump Jr.: Trump's son continues to hold significant influence with his father's base and is often included in early lists of potential contenders. His viability is largely tied to his ability to capitalize on his father's fervent support within the party.
• Ron DeSantis: The Florida Governor was a major challenger in the 2024 Republican primary and remains a potential candidate for 2028. Though his polling numbers dipped after his 2024 bid, he maintains a loyal base of support.
• Marco Rubio: The current Secretary of State has been mentioned as a possible contender. His high-profile role in the administration could raise his profile and appeal to voters.
• Nikki Haley: The former U.N. Ambassador and South Carolina Governor saw a polling boost during her 2024 primary campaign as a moderate alternative to Donald Trump. Her future prospects depend on whether the party shifts away from Trumpian foreign policy views.

Other names that have come up in early discussions include Texas Governor Greg Abbott, South Carolina Senator Tim Scott, and Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders. The ongoing influence of Donald Trump will likely shape the race, with many candidates aligning themselves with his "Make America Great Again" (MAGA) movement. The performance of candidates like DeSantis and Haley in the 2024 cycle will inform their next moves, as they continue to build on their political brands and connections. The field is still wide open, and new Republican figures could emerge as serious challengers over the next few years.

Charlie Kirk was the CEO and co-founder of the conservative youth organization Turning Point USA. He led an effort to remake the GOP’s get-out-the-vote effort in the 2024 election based on the theory there were thousands of Trump supporters who rarely vote but could be persuaded to vote. Kirk served as a personal aide to the then-candidate's eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., during the 2016 general election campaign. Contributions to his group doubled and then tripled — eventually climbing to $79.2 million in 2022, according to an analysis of publicly available tax filings. The group states that it now has a presence on nearly 4,000 high school and college campuses, operating as a conservative lifestyle brand that promotes hundreds of online influencers. Trump paid tribute to Kirk, calling him “the finest person” who was “like a son” to him.

Kirk's organizations, primarily Turning Point USA (TPUSA), were funded by an influential network of conservative donors and foundations. Since its founding in 2012, TPUSA has attracted significant financial backing from high-profile individuals and groups to support its mission of promoting conservative politics on high school and college campuses. DeVos Foundation, tied to the family of former US Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, waas been a major financial backer. DonorsTrust is a "dark money" organization that funds various conservative and libertarian groups, which has channeled money to TPUSA.

Charlie Kirk was assassnated on 10 September 2025, at the age of 31. President Trump announced that he will posthumously award Charlie Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom. The U.S. Constitution requires that a president must be at least 35 years old. Born on October 14, 1993, Charlie Kirk would have been 35 on October 14, 2028, just before the November 2028 election. This would have made him old enough to be inaugurated in January 2029.