Overview

• The 22nd Amendment bars President Trump from a consecutive third term in 2028, prompting a fresh nomination contest.
• JD Vance of Ohio is widely viewed as the early frontrunner thanks to his Trump-aligned reputation and established donor networks.
• Senators Marco Rubio and Ron DeSantis alongside Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin are closely trailing Vance in early-state polling and donor outreach.
• No candidate has formally declared, but potential hopefuls are already laying campaign groundwork in Iowa and New Hampshire.
• A broader slate of governors including Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Brian Kemp and Greg Abbott and senators Ted Cruz, Tim Scott and Josh Hawley remains under consideration.