User:Edward of York
Republican Party
[edit]Speculated candidates
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Ted Cruz
[edit]Ted Cruz has served as a United States senator from Texas since 2013 after being appointed as the 3rd Solicitor General of Texas by then Texas Attorney General and fellow potential candidate Greg Abbott, he served this role from 2003 to 2008. Initially reluctant to support Trump, Cruz has become a key Republican figure and a close ally of Trump. Cruz was born in Canada after his father, preacher Rafael Cruz, immigrated there from Cuba, though he is still able fulfill the natural-born citizen requirement due to his mother's American citizenship which he inherited. He now serves as the chair of the Senate Commerce Committee after serving as the ranking member from 2023 to 2025. The runner-up to Donald Trump in the 2016 Republican Party presidential primaries, Cruz has said that he expects to seek the presidency again at some point. He was mentioned as a potential candidate by CNN,[1] Axios,[2][3] and The Hill.[4] In December 2025, The Washington Post reported that Cruz was considering a presidential campaign.
Ron DeSantis
[edit]Josh Hawley
[edit]Nikki Haley
[edit]Sarah Huckabee Sanders
[edit]Thomas Massie
[edit]Thomas Massie has served as the U.S. representative for Kentucky's 4th congressional district since 2012. A Republican with libertarian leanings, he is known for fiscal conservatism and often voting against party leadership. In October 2025, former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey endorsed him for president on X, posting "@RepThomasMassie for president."[5] Online speculation surged about a potential presidential ticket, dubbed Massie-Greene by supporters.[6] Massie responded positively but said he had no intention to run. Massie has not declared any presidential candidacy and remains in Congress, where he faces a Trump-backed primary challenge in his 2026 re-election bid amid ongoing tensions.
Declined to run
[edit]The following individuals have publicly denied interest in being a candidate:
- Greg Abbott, 48th governor of Texas (2015–present)
- Steve Bannon, former Senior Counselor to the President from Virginia (2017)
- Mike Braun, 52nd governor of Indiana (2025–present), U.S. senator from Indiana (2019–2025)
- Tucker Carlson, media proprietor and podcast host from Maine
- Spencer Cox, 18th governor of Utah (2021–present)
- Sean Duffy, 20th United States secretary of transportation (2025–present)
- Matt Gaetz, U.S. representative from FL-1 (2017–2024)
- Marjorie Taylor Greene, U.S. representative from GA-14 (2021–2026)
- Mike Johnson, 56th speaker of the United States House of Representatives (2023–present), U.S. representative from LA-4 (2017–present)
- Adam Kinzinger, U.S. representative from IL-16 (2011–2023)
- Erika Kirk, widow of Charlie Kirk, CEO of Turning Point USA (2025–present) (endorsed Vance)
- Dave McCormick, U.S. senator from Pennsylvania (2025–present)
- Donald Trump Jr., businessman and son of incumbent president Donald Trump
- Glenn Youngkin, 74th Governor of Virginia (2022–2026) (endorsed Vance)
Democratic Party
[edit]Third-party and independents
[edit]- ^ Wolf, Zachary B. (2025-08-03). "Analysis: Republicans are (quietly) making 2028 moves | CNN Politics". CNN. Retrieved 2026-02-20.
- ^ Isenstadt, Alex (2025-07-07). "Potential 2028 GOP contenders already making moves". Axios. Retrieved 2026-02-20.
- ^ Isenstadt, Alex (2025-11-17). "Ted Cruz sets stage for 2028 run with Tucker Carlson jabs". Axios. Retrieved 2026-02-20.
- ^ Fortinsky, Sarah (2025-11-17). "Ted Cruz responds to presidential talk: Wins are 'historic'". The Hill. Archived from the original on 2025-12-28. Retrieved 2026-02-20.
- ^ Robby Soave, opinion contributor (2025-10-21). "Thomas Massie for president, says Twitter's Jack Dorsey". The Hill. Archived from the original on 2025-11-16. Retrieved 2026-02-20.
{{cite news}}:|last=has generic name (help) - ^ "Massie-Greene 2028 buzz gains steam after fallout with Trump: 'Looking good to American people'". Hindustan Times. 2025-11-17. Retrieved 2026-02-20.