With three years still left in President Donald Trump’s second term, many Americans are already looking ahead to the 2028 presidential election, according to a new poll. A CNN-SSRS poll conducted between December 4 and 7 found that half of US adults have already thought about the next election. About 22 percent said they have thought about it “a lot,” and 28 percent said they have thought about it “some.”
Still, most people don’t have a clear favourite yet. Nearly two-thirds of respondents said they don’t have a specific person in mind for 2028, while one-third named a potential candidate.
Who voters want to see run
Among Republicans and conservatives, Vice President JD Vance led the list. Eleven percent of respondents said they want him to run in 2028. Other names received far less support. Secretary of State Marco Rubio was mentioned by 2 percent, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis by 1 percent, and Donald Trump by 1 percent. Trump is occasionally teasing another run, but he is constitutionally barred from running again under the 22nd Amendment.
On the Democratic side, California Governor Gavin Newsom topped the list, with 6 percent of respondents naming him.
Former Vice President Kamala Harris followed with 3 percent,New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez received 2 percent support. Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg was mentioned by 1 percent.
Some respondents also named figures who are either ineligible or have not indicated plans to run. These included former President Barack Obama, former First Lady Michelle Obama, and Arizona Senator Mark Kelly, each receiving 1 percent. Only one respondent named candidates from both parties, telling CNN they preferred “Mitt Romney or Mark Kelly.”
What voters want in the next president
Those without a preferred candidate were asked what qualities mattered most in the next president, with responses collected in an open-ended format.
Honesty emerged as the top response. Twelve percent said they want a president who is truthful and does not lie. Another 9 percent said they want someone who is compassionate, empathetic, and genuinely cares about people. When asked about the most important issues, affordability and cost of living ranked at the top. Six percent of respondents mentioned it.
Other issues received fewer mentions. Three percent said they want a president focused on “America first” or prioritising US interests over foreign affairs. Healthcare, foreign policy, and federal spending were each mentioned by 2 percent of respondents.
Even before returning to the White House, Trump has repeatedly teased the idea of running again. He has even sold “Trump 2028 hats.” In October, Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One, “I would love to do it. I have my best numbers ever”
Two days after those remarks, Trump walked them back, stating that the Constitution clearly bars him from running again. Still, Bannon continued to push the idea. In November, he said on his War Room show that he believed, “you can drive a Mack truck through the 22nd Amendment,” he told reporters. He added that this view came from a “top constitutional lawyer.”
Earlier this month, Trump again created speculation. At a White House Christmas party, he said he had just a “little more than three years” left in his term. Days earlier, he had posted an AI-generated image on Truth Social showing himself holding a sign that read, “Trump 2028, yes!”
