No major-party figures have formally declared 2028 presidential campaigns as of October 2026, with only minor candidates filing FEC paperwork. Serious contenders are widely expected to clarify intentions after the November 2026 midterms, when early positioning, fundraising, and primary calendar strategies typically accelerate. Republican frontrunners in polls include Vice President JD Vance, who leads national surveys, alongside names such as Donald Trump Jr., Ron DeSantis, and Ted Cruz; several others including Sen. John Kennedy and Chris Christie have recently signaled openness. On the Democratic side, Kamala Harris tops primary polling, followed by Gavin Newsom, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Pete Buttigieg, with many weighing runs but deferring decisions. Donald Trump’s term limit opens the field, and trader focus centers on which declared or exploring candidates will cross the announcement threshold first in 2027.