Although hundreds typically register, only a small number mount serious campaigns.
More than 200 individuals have filed paperwork to run for president in 2028, even as Democrats begin internal debates over which states will lead their nominating contests.
The United States will hold its 61st presidential election on Nov. 7, 2028. As of Aug. 28, a total of 211 candidates are officially registered with the Federal Election Commission (FEC), highlighting the rapid pace of filings more than three years before Election Day.
Although hundreds typically register, only a small number mount serious campaigns. Most of those registered in the 2028 cycle are little-known figures. No nationally prominent politicians have yet declared.
Presidential filings have ballooned since the FEC allowed electronic submissions in 2015. The 2016 cycle drew a record 1,740 registrants, followed by 1,564 in 2024 and 1,196 in 2020, elections data show. Earlier election cycles saw far fewer registrations—427 in 2012 and 384 in 2008.
With 1,167 days until voters head to the polls, the swelling 2028 candidate list shows the contest is already shaping up.
The Republican Party accounts for the largest bloc, with 62 registered candidates. The roster is entirely composed of little-known individuals, though the volume of filings highlights early GOP energy ahead of the primaries.
The Democratic Party has 49 candidates on the books. The list consists of long-shot or unknown figures, with no prominent Democrats having registered. While the roster lacks familiar names, the party is preparing to set the ground rules for its 2028 primary schedule.
At a meeting in Minneapolis this week, the new leadership of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) told the DNC Rules and Bylaws Committee that the presidential calendar process has already commenced.
“We’re planning for meetings throughout the fall and winter and through the spring to make sure that we have a rigorous, effective and fair calendar process,” DNC Chair Ken Martin said. “We need this process to give us the strongest possible candidate, a candidate that’s battle-tested to win and ready to lead America forward.”
Which states will kick off the Democratic nominating process in 2028 has not yet been decided. The committee will meet through the fall and into 2026 to determine which states hold early contests.
By Tom Ozimek
