2028 United States Presidential Election (Leftiverse)

See Also: 2028 United States Congressional Elections

The 2028 United States Presidential Election was held on November 7, 2028. Incumbent Democrats Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Rashida Tlaib won against Republican talk show host Candace Owens and former White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany in the largest electoral landslide since George H.W. Bush in 1988; with the largest popular vote landslide since James Monroe in 1820. This was the second presidential election where the candidates of the major political parties were women, and the first where the presidential candidates of the major parties were both minorities and women of color. Ocasio-Cortez received the most votes cast for President ever, with over 127 million votes.

The 2028 election was the last federal election before the institution of a ranked-voting system in 2029, with the passage of the 28th amendment. Ocasio-Cortez received the largest share of the popular vote in over 200 years,

Background
Ocasio-Cortez went into the election with high popularity, peaking at 67% in 2024. Sluggish economic growth during the Biden administration was replaced by rises in GDP, decreased unemployment, and higher incomes. The Green New Deal had dramatically increased the GDP, with growth averaging around 10% per year, reaching $32 trillion in 2028. Unemployment had fallen to 2% in September 2028 and median income increased from around $32,000 to around $40,000; with average household income increasing to roughly $90,000.

U.S. carbon emissions had fallen dramatically, with a carbon tax bringing in millions of dollars of revenue and reducing industrial carbon emissions. Recent major hurricanes, such as Hurricanes Josephine and Yenn, had increased support for Ocasio-Cortez and climate change initiatives in coastal states such as Florida, Texas, North Carolina, and Louisiana.

Relations with China had worsened, especially over trade and Taiwan. Ocasio-Cortez maintained American commitments to "protect all our allies and honor all our treaties, regardless of where they may be." Poor wages and the situation regarding Uyghur Muslims also worsened relations, as the U.S. seeked to diversify its import and export partners away from China and towards Europe, Africa, and South America.

Immigration along the Mexican border increased dramatically under the Ocasio-Cortez administration. Driven in part by her open border policy and increased health, education, and welfare benefits. About 19 million illegal aliens were given amnesty and naturalized under Ocasio-Cortez. Immigration rules were changed to make it easier for most people to arrive into and become citizens of the U.S., including making the naturalization process easier. Meanwhile laws made it tougher for sex and drug-traffickers to enter into the country, with increased surveillance systems and decreasing the demand for illicit substances.

Democrats had made huge gains in 2024 and the 2026 midterms, flipping tens of House seats, several Senate seats, and the composition of state legislatures. Republicans' biggest case against Ocasio-Cortez and Democrats was the worsening of relations with China and extensive growth of government, which they viewed as evasive. However, the threat of government and foreign relations only ranked 14th and 12th respectively among the most important issues for voters, behind climate change, the economy, education, and LGBTQIA+ rights.

Issues listed by importance to voters

 * 1) Climate Change
 * 2) Healthcare
 * 3) Green/Renewable Energy
 * 4) Higher Education
 * 5) Women's Rights
 * 6) Immigration
 * 7) Race Relations
 * 8) Economic Growth
 * 9) LGBTQIA+ Rights
 * 10) Unemployment
 * 11) Taxation
 * 12) Foreign Relations
 * 13) Trade
 * 14) Role of Government
 * 15) D.C./Puerto Rico Statehood

Democrat Nomination
Ocasio-Cortez and Tlaib secured the Democratic nomination without much resistance. The biggest roadblock faced was the single other Democratic candidate, Tulsi Gabbard, who still offered almost no resistance.

Reoublican Nomination
The Republican Party was beginning to fracture. More traditional conservatives fought against Trump-era conservatives in a tough primary season. Several prominent politicians, including Matt Gaetz, Mitt Romney, Ted Cruz, Greg Abbot, and Henry McMaster. Talk show host Candace Owens also made a debut. Owens narrowly secured the nomination with former White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany as her vice presidential nominee.

Third-Party Nominations
The Libertarian Party nominated Marshall Burt of Wyoming and Mark Madsen of Utah. The Green Party nominated Jill Stein of Massachusetts and Gayle McLaughlin of California.

Debates
Three presidential and one vice presidential debates were scheduled, but only two presidential debates were held. Only the Democratic and Republican nominees participated in the debates.

The first presidential debate was held September 25, at the University of Pennsylvania. It was moderated by Martha Raddatz of ABC. Topics included healthcare, immigration, the role of the federal government, relations with China and Russia, the role of higher education, and religious freedoms.

The vice presidential debate was held October 7, at Brown University. It was moderated by Rachel Maddow of MSNBC. Topics included American foreign policy, NATO, the proposed 28th amendment.

The second Presidential debate was scheduled to be held October 20, in the form of a town hall at Boise State University. It was to be moderated by Chris Wallace of FOX News. Candace Owens protested the debate on the grounds of Wallace being "biased and sympathetic to the Democrats." The debate was postponed on October 12 and cancelled on October 15.

The third presidential debate was held October 28, at North Carolina State University. It was moderated by Kristen Welker of NBC. Topics included the immigration, climate change, gun control, taxation, and the proposed 28th, 29th, 30th, and 31st amendments.

Results
Ocasio-Cortez bested Owens with 66.7% of the popular vote and 416 electoral votes. Owens received 30.2% of the vote, with 122 electoral votes. Sinema received 9.3% of the vote, with 13 electoral votes. Ocasio-Cortez won in the largest electoral landslide since 1988 and the largest popular vote landslide since 1820. Much of the newly gained support came from the vast number of immigrants naturalized under the Ocasio-Cortez administration, who were key in flipping several key states.

Democrats flipped Texas for the first time since 1976, Florida, Iowa, and Ohio since 2012, North Carolina since 2008, and Alaska since 1964. Democrats also made large gains in the Republican states of Missouri, Indiana, South Carolina, Utah, Idaho, Montana, and Louisiana. The states of Arizona and Georgia shifted even further left, along with Michigan, New Hampshire, and Maine.

Close States
States where the margin of victory was under 1% (16 electoral votes; 6 won by Ocasio-Cortez, 10 by Owens):


 * Missouri, 0.57% (19,326 votes) - 10 electoral votes
 * Iowa, 0.98% (20,703 votes) - 6 electoral votes

States where the margin of victory was between 1% and 5% (190 electoral votes; 184 won by Ocasio-Cortez, 6 by Owens):


 * Ohio, 1.3% (59,375) - 17 electoral votes
 * Wisconsin, 1.86% (58,067) - 10 electoral votes
 * North Carolina, 1.99% (74,810) - 16 electoral votes
 * Florida, 2.89% (394,786) - 30 electoral votes
 * Nevada, 3.4% (48,680) - 6 electoral votes
 * Pennsylvania, 3.82% (160,274) - 19 electoral votes
 * Georgia, 3.84% (200,243) - 16 electoral votes
 * Arizona, 3.87% (201,664) - 11 electoral votes
 * Alaska, 3.87% (17,293) - 3 electoral votes
 * Texas, 3.92% (524,896) - 40 electoral votes
 * Michigan, 4.02% (301,289) - 15 electoral votes
 * Utah, 4.76% (101,775) - 6 electoral votes
 * Maine's 2nd Congressional District, 4.9% (21,587) - 1 electoral vote