2028 United States presidential election (YoungLibertarian20)

The 2028 United States presidential election was the 61st quadrennial presidential election, held on Tuesday, November 7, 2028. The Republican ticket of incumbent Vice President Tim Scott and U.S. Senator from Missouri Josh Hawley defeated the Democratic ticket of U.S. Senator from Georgia Jon Ossoff and U.S. Senator from New Jersey Cory Booker. Scott became the second African-American to be elected to the presidency, after Barack Obama in 2008. With his victory, he was the first African-American president to be a member of the Republican Party. He became the first sitting Vice President to be elected President since George H.W. Bush in 1988. Scott and Hawley took the oath of office as the 48th President and 51st Vice President of the United States on January 20, 2029.

The incumbent president, Donald Trump, was elected to two nonconsecutive terms in 2016 and 2024. He was ineligible to be elected to a third term due to term limits in the Twenty-second Amendment to the United States Constitution. Vice President Tim Scott secured the Republican nomination over closest competitors Adam Laxalt and Josh Mandel. Upon clinching the presidential nomination, Scott became the first African-American presidential candidate to be nominated by the Republican Party for the presidency. He is only the third African-American to be nominated by a major party, after Barack Obama in 2008 and Kamala Harris in 2024. The Democratic nomination was a closely fought race, in which Georgia Senator Jon Ossoff emerged as the presidential nominee. His closest competitor, U.S. Senator Jamaal Bowman, remained in the race until the Democratic National Convention because Ossoff failed to win an outright majority of delegates needed to win the nomination. Ossoff would later select New Jersey Senator Cory Booker as his running mate, marking the third U.S. presidential election in a row to feature an African-American vice presidential nominee of a major political party. 2028 will be the first election in which there was both a major party African-American presidential and vice presidential nominee. At the age of 41, Ossoff became the youngest major party presidential nominee since William Jennings Bryan in 1900.

The general election campaign focused primarily on domestic issues including the continued path to economic recovery, income inequality, rising student loan debt, the future of Social Security and racial tensions. Incumbent President Trump had passed multiple tax reforms as the nation recovered from the long-term economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. He remained a polarizing figure in politics while campaigning visibly with Scott. Ossoff contrastingly aligned himself with former Presidents Biden and Obama and campaigned with both visibly in the final weeks of the campaign. Headed into election day, most polls showed a tight race. Election turnout once again decreased in 2028, and was the first time that overall voter turnout was under 60 percent since 2016. It also marked the second election in a row that the Republican candidate won the nationwide popular vote as well as failed to gain a majority. It was the first time the popular vote was won by a Republican two consecutive times since the 1984 and 1988 presidential elections. Scott won three states Trump lost in 2024: Minnesota, New Hampshire, and New Mexico. This was the first election in which Minnesota was carried by a Republican since 1972, while New Hampshire also flipped to Republican for the first time since 2000. New Mexico was also won by Republicans, a state last won in 2004. Ossoff flipped Nebraska's 2nd congressional district and Georgia, his home state, to Democratic by the narrowest margin of any state nationwide in the election. With Scott's win, a Republican candidate had won two presidential elections in a row for the first time since George W. Bush in 2000 and 2004. 2028's outcome was the best overall electoral performance for a Republican since George H.W. Bush's victory in 1988.

Background
Article Two of the United States Constitution states that for a person to serve as president, the individual must be a natural-born citizen of the United States, be at least 35 years old, and have been a United States resident for at least 14 years. Candidates for the presidency typically seek the nomination of one of the various political parties in the United States. Each party develops a method (such as a primary election) to choose the candidate the party deems best suited to run for the position. Primary elections are usually indirect elections where voters cast ballots for a slate of party delegates pledged to a particular candidate. The party's delegates then officially nominate a candidate to run on the party's behalf. The presidential nominee typically chooses a vice presidential running mate to form that party's ticket, which is then ratified by the delegates at the party's convention (except for the Libertarian Party, which nominates its vice-presidential candidate by delegate vote regardless of the presidential nominee's preference). The general election in November is also an indirect election, in which voters cast ballots for a slate of members of the Electoral College; these electors then directly elect the president and vice president. If no candidate receives the minimum 270 electoral votes needed to win the election, the United States House of Representatives will select the president from among the three candidates who received the most electoral votes, and the United States Senate will select the vice president from among the candidates who received the two highest totals. The presidential election occurred simultaneously alongside elections for the House of Representatives, the Senate, and various state and local-level elections.

Overview
President Donald Trump defeated then-Vice President Kamala Harris in 2024 for a second nonconsecutive term, and was inelgible to run for a third in 2028. Vice President Tim Scott was widely seen as the frontrunner in the primaries, while many party members suggested a competitive primary is a possibility for the first time since 2016. In total, 8 major presidential candidates announced their campaigns. Former Presidents Bush and Trump declined to endorse Scott or another candidate, but pledged to support the eventual nominee of the party. Scott was widely seen as having a firm hold on the nomination, and dominated several polls leading up to and during the primaries. In an article later released by The New York Times, many in the party notably including candidates Candace Owens and Marco Rubio.

Ultimately, Scott would win the nomination in a competitive primary against closest competitors Adam Laxalt and Josh Mandel. Many of his challengers would later align behind Scott's candidacy or endorse him outright. Upon Scott's clinching of the Republican nomination, he became the first African-American presidential nominee to be nominated by the Republican Party. Presidents Donald Trump and George W. Bush would endorse Scott, as well as Former Vice President Mike Pence. Trump called Scott's nomination "historic and very well-deserved" and affirmed the party's full support behind his presumptive nomination.

Withdrawn candidates

 * Kevin Cramer, United States Senator from North Dakota (2019-present); United States Representative from ND-AL (2013–2019)
 * Josh Hawley, United States Senator from Missouri (2019–present)
 * Adam Laxalt, United States Senator from Nevada (2023–present); 33rd Attorney General of Nevada (2015-2019)
 * Josh Mandel, United States Senator from Ohio (2023–present); 48th Treasurer of Ohio (2011-2019); Member of the Ohio House of Representatives from the 17th district (2007-2011)
 * Kristi Noem, 33rd Governor of South Dakota (2019–2027); United States Representative from SD-AL (2011–2019)
 * Candace Owens, author and talk show host from Connecticut
 * Marco Rubio, U.S. Secretary of State (2025-2027); United States Senator from Florida (2011-2025); 94th Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives (2006–2008); Member of the Florida House of Representatives from the 111th district (2000–2008); Member of the West Miami City Commission (1998–2000)

Vice presidential selection
Scott had begun discussing potential picks as his running mate shortly after President Trump's public endorsement of his candidacy. He stated that the pick would be "day one ready" to face the potential challenges of a presidency in their own right. Scott's ultimately vice presidential shortlist narrowed to three individuals: Josh Hawley, Kristi Noem, and Rand Paul. Scott later selected Hawley as his vice presidential running mate. New York Times had reported after the decision that incumbent President Trump heavily impacted Scott's decision, and strongly endorsed Hawley's vice presidential candidacy.


 * Josh Hawley, United States Senator from Missouri (2019-present); Attorney General of Missouri (2017-2019)
 * Kristi Noem, 33rd Governor of South Dakota (2019–2027); United States Representative from SD-AL (2011–2019); candidate for President in 2028
 * Rand Paul, United States Senator from Kentucky (2011-present)

Overview
In the weeks following the defeat of Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 election, media speculation regarding potential candidates for the Democratic presidential nomination in the 2028 presidential election began to circulate. Democratic insiders and political strategists suggested that former Governor and 2024 vice presidential nominee Roy Cooper and "progressive firebrands" Alexandria Ocasio Cortez and Jamaal Bowman could be among the early prospective frontrunners for the nomination. Former Presidents Joe Biden and Barack Obama, as well as Former Vice President Kamala Harris pledged not to endorse a candidate until their nomination is presumptive. A total of 14 major presidential candidates entered the race. Before the primaries began, in December 2026, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez announced she would not run for President again in 2028 and instead leaving the "progressive lanes open". Both Cooper and Gillibrand declared their candidacies, including several other Democratic hopefuls.

Without a clear frontrunner, the primary became very competitive with multiple candidates winning various states in primary contests. Jamaal Bowman, Katie Porter, and Ayanna Pressley dominated voters seeking a 'more liberal' nominee while the other candidates remained center-left in alignment with the party's platform. Establishment insiders pointed to Bernie Sanders' losses in 2016 and 2020, as well as Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in 2024 as reasoning why a progressive nominee may not be "palatable to general election voters". Ultimately, exit polls began showing a solidifying of party support behind Senator Jon Ossoff while progressives had aligned around Jamaal Bowman. Ultimately, the primary battle all but ended in Ossoff's victories in early June primaries to establish a clear lead over Bowman ahead of the Democratic National Convention. He did fail however, to clinch the neccessary delegates to clinch the nomination outright. Bowman vowed to remain in the race until the convention formalized Ossoff's nomination. Ossoff was later formally nominated after clinching the neccessary delegates needed to win on the convention floor.

Withdrawn candidates

 * Eric Adams, Mayor of New York City (2022-present); 18th Borough President of Brooklyn (2014-2022); Member of the New York State Senate from the 20th district (2007-2013)
 * Jamaal Bowman, U.S. Senator from New York (2025-present); U.S. representative from NY-16 (2021-2025)
 * Roy Cooper, 75th Governor of North Carolina (2017–2025), 49th Attorney General of North Carolina (2001–2017), Member of the North Carolina Senate (1991–2001), Member of the North Carolina House of Representatives (1987–1991); candidate for President in 2024; Democratic nominee for vice president in 2024
 * Jason Crow, United States Representative from CO-6 (2019-present)
 * Sara Gideon, U.S. Senator from Maine (2025-present); 102nd Speaker of the Maine House of Representatives (2016-2020); Member of the Maine House of Representatives from the 48th district (2012-2020)
 * Martin Heinrich, U.S. Senator from New Mexico (2013-present); U.S. representative from NM-1 (2009-2013); Member of the Albuquerque City Council from the 6th district (2004-2008)
 * Lori Lightfoot, 56th Mayor of Chicago (2019-2027)
 * Katie Porter, U.S. Senator from California (2025-present); U.S. representative from CA-45 (2019-2025)
 * Ayanna Pressley, U.S. representative from MA-7 (2019-present); Member of the Boston City Council at-large (2010-2019)
 * Gina Raimondo, 40th United States Secretary of Commerce (2021–2025), 75th Governor of Rhode Island (2015–2021), 30th General Treasurer of Rhode Island (2011–2015)
 * Tim Ryan, U.S. representative from OH-13 (2013–2023); U.S. representative from OH-17 (2003–2013); candidate for president in 2020
 * Tim Walz, 41st Governor of Minnesota (2019-2027); U.S. representative from MN-1 (2003–2013)
 * Andrew Yang, Founder of Venture for America; Presidential Ambassador for Global Entrepreneurship (2015–2017); candidate for president in 2020

Vice presidential selection
Despite falling just short of a majority of the delegates needed to win the nomination, Ossoff was still widely expected to win the presidential nomination with much of the field supporting his candidacy. In the final days leading up to the Democratic National Convention, four individuals were left on Ossoff's final list for Vice President: Xavier Becerra, Cory Booker, Jamaal Bowman, and Amy Klobuchar. Becerra was considered in order to appeal to an erosion of Democratic support among Latino voters. Bowman remained in the race until the convention as a presidential candidate but did not have a formal vice presidential vetting process. Ossoff continued to privately consider him as a running mate in a bid for a "rare unity ticket". He stated in private conservations that he believed Booker could help enhance African-American turnout in swing states similarly to former President Joe Biden's choice of Kamala Harris in 2020. Ossoff viewed Klobuchar as a potential asset in winning key Midwest states such as Minnesota, and neighboring states Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania which were won by President Donald Trump in 2024. He ultimately would select Booker as his vice presidential running mate ahead of the Democratic National Convention. Upon the solidifying of Booker's vice presidential nomination, 2028 became the third year in a row to feature a major party African-American vice presidential nominee.


 * Xavier Becerra, 25th United States Secretary of Health and Human Services (2021-2025); 33rd Attorney General of California (2017-2021); United States Representative from CA-30, CA-31, CA-34 (1993-2017); Member of the California State Assembly from the 59th district (1990-1992)
 * Cory Booker, U.S. Senator from New Jersey (2013-present); Mayor of Newark, New Jersey (2006–2013); candidate for President in 2020
 * Jamaal Bowman, United States Representative from NY-16 (2021-present); candidate for President in 2028
 * Amy Klobuchar, United States Senator from Minnesota (2007–present); County Attorney of Hennepin County (1999–2007); candidate for president in 2020 and 2024

Close states
States where the margin of victory was under 1% (33 electoral votes; 18 won by Ossoff, 15 won by Scott):


 * Georgia, 0.2% - 16 electoral votes (won by Ossoff)
 * New Mexico, 0.3% - 5 electoral votes (won by Scott)
 * Maine, 0.5% - 2 electoral votes (won by Ossoff)
 * Minnesota, 0.5% - 10 electoral votes (won by Scott)

States where the margin of victory was between 1% and 5% (106 electoral votes; 92 won by Scott, 14 won by Ossoff)


 * New Hampshire, 1.1% - 4 electoral votes (won by Scott)
 * Arizona, 2.0% - 11 electoral votes (won by Scott)
 * Nebraska's 2nd congressional district, 2.2% - 1 electoral vote (won by Ossoff)
 * North Carolina, 2.3% - 16 electoral votes (won by Scott)
 * Virginia, 2.3% - 13 electoral votes (won by Ossoff)
 * Nevada, 2.8% - 6 electoral votes (won by Scott)
 * Texas, 3.4% - 40 electoral votes (won by Scott)
 * Michigan, 4.6% - 15 electoral votes (won by Scott)

States/districts where the margin of victory was between 5% and 10% (62 electoral votes, all won by Scott)


 * Pennsylvania, 5.3% - 19 electoral votes (won by Scott)
 * Wisconsin, 6.7% - 10 electoral votes (won by Scott)
 * Alaska, 6.8% - 3 electoral votes (won by Scott)
 * Florida, 7.4% - 30 electoral votes (won by Scott)