2028 Republican Primary (Mercbl)

The 2028 Republican Presidential Primary saw 44 candidates make a bid for the position of Republican nominee, the largest ever number for a Presidential primary.

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds managed to broaden her appeal to both the Trumpist and “old-school” conservative factions after the extremely controversial 2024 primary, allowing her to become the Republican Party’s first female nominee and then America’s first female President. Most of the hardcore Trumpist vote went to either Governor Ron DeSantis or Senator Josh Hawley while Vice President Mike Pence was popular with the moderate Republicans but won little of the Trumpist vote, despite being Trump’s Vice President. The 2028 primaries also saw young-earth creationist Eric Hovind make his political debut as somewhat of a dark horse candidate, beating respected politicians such as ambassador Nikki Haley, Governor Larry Hogan and Senator Rand Paul.

Following a crowded and divisive primary season, several of the Republican hopefuls ended up running for President as independents or as minor party nominees: the most notable of these being the independent campaign of Mike Pence and Eric Hovind’s run as the nominee as the candidate of the Salvation party.

Kim Reynolds would go on to claim victory in the 2028 presidential election.