The 2028 presidential election will determine the next president of the United States. Election Day is Tuesday, November 7, 2028.
Follow the 2028 presidential candidates, Republican and Democratic primaries, state-by-state primary calendar, debate schedules, polling and campaign news. Election Central brings together the key dates, nomination contests and election information as the race for the White House develops.
2028 presidential election at a glance
Election Day: November 7, 2028
Presidential primaries and caucuses: 2028, beginning with early-state contests
Republican primary calendar: Early-state dates and the full schedule are still being finalized
Democratic primary calendar: Six early states approved by the DNC, beginning January 22, 2028
Presidential debates: Primary debates expected during the 2027–2028 election cycle; dates to be announced
Explore the 2028 presidential election
2028 Presidential Primary Schedule and Calendar
The 2028 presidential primary calendar will determine when Republicans and Democrats hold their state nominating contests. Primaries and caucuses begin in early 2028, with delegates selected for each party’s national convention. The two parties follow different early-state schedules, and some states may hold their Republican and Democratic contests on separate dates.
2028 Republican Primary Schedule
The Republican National Committee approved its early-state order in September 2026, retaining the traditional opening sequence:
- Iowa – Republican caucuses
- New Hampshire – Republican primary
- Nevada – Republican nominating contest
- South Carolina – Republican primary
The dates for these contests are still being finalized, along with the remainder of the Republican primary calendar.
2028 Democratic Primary Schedule
The Democratic National Committee approved six early-state contests in August 2026, beginning with South Carolina. The party-approved schedule includes:
- January 22: South Carolina
- February 1: Nevada
- February 8: New Hampshire
- February 15: New Mexico
- February 22: Michigan
- February 29: Virginia
The Democratic dates reflect the DNC-approved calendar and remain subject to applicable state election laws and administrative arrangements.
Election Central’s complete 2028 Presidential Primary Schedule will combine both parties into one state-by-state calendar, with confirmed dates, tentative contests, caucus information and delegate details as the schedules are finalized.
2028 Presidential Debate Schedule
Presidential debates will be an important part of the 2028 campaign, beginning with the Republican and Democratic nomination contests and continuing into the general election.
Primary debates traditionally begin during the year before a presidential election. In recent cycles, the first Democratic debates took place in June 2019, while the first Republican debate of the 2024 cycle was held in August 2023.
The timing and format of the 2028 debates will depend on announcements from political parties, campaigns, television networks and event organizers.
Election Central will maintain separate Republican and Democratic primary debate schedules featuring confirmed dates, start times, participating candidates, television networks, qualification rules and livestream information.
As debates take place, our coverage will also include available full debate videos, highlights and related campaign news.
2028 Republican Presidential Primary
The 2028 Republican presidential primary will determine the party’s nominee to succeed President Donald Trump, whose current term ends in January 2029.
Republican candidates will compete in state primaries and caucuses to secure delegates to the 2028 Republican National Convention. State contest dates, delegate allocation rules and candidate qualification requirements will shape the nomination process.
Election Central’s Republican primary coverage will follow candidate announcements, national nomination polling, upcoming contests, debate schedules and primary results as the campaign develops.
2028 Democratic Presidential Primary
The 2028 Democratic presidential primary will select the party’s nominee for the general election. Candidates will compete for pledged delegates through state primaries and caucuses, with the nomination decided under Democratic Party convention rules.
The DNC has approved six early-state contests beginning with South Carolina in January 2028. These contests will precede the broader national primary calendar.
Our Democratic primary coverage will track declared candidates, potential contenders, polling trends, debates, delegate selection and state-by-state primary results throughout the nomination process.
2028 Presidential Primary Polls and Polling Averages
Early 2028 presidential polling measures voter preferences among potential and announced candidates for the Republican and Democratic nominations.
National primary polls can provide insight into name recognition and candidate support, but early surveys do not determine who will ultimately win either party’s nomination.
Election Central is developing independent polling averages and historical trend charts using individual published surveys. The polling dashboard will provide Republican and Democratic nomination data, including pollsters, field dates, sample sizes, candidate percentages and methodology information.
As the nominees emerge, general-election polling will become a separate focus, including national surveys and important state-level presidential matchups.
Who Is Running for President in 2028?
The 2028 presidential candidate field is taking shape as Republicans, Democrats and potential candidates from other parties consider entering the race.
Election Central’s presidential candidate directory tracks potential contenders and officially announced candidates, including their political backgrounds and campaign status. Visitors can browse the Republican and Democratic lists using interactive party filters.
View the complete 2028 Presidential Candidates List →
When is the 2028 presidential election?
The next United States presidential election is scheduled for Tuesday, November 7, 2028.
Voters will choose presidential electors through elections held across the states and the District of Columbia. A candidate needs a majority of Electoral College votes, currently 270 out of 538, to win through the Electoral College.
The president-elect and vice president-elect are scheduled to take office on January 20, 2029.
How does the 2028 presidential primary process work?
Presidential primaries and caucuses help political parties select their nominees for president. Voters participate in state contests that determine or influence the selection of delegates to national nominating conventions.
The Republican and Democratic parties use different delegate allocation rules, and individual states have their own participation requirements and election procedures.
Some states hold both parties’ primaries on the same date, while others use separate dates or different methods of selecting delegates. The 2028 primary calendar will identify these differences as the schedule is finalized.
What other elections take place in 2028?
The 2028 general election will also include all 435 voting seats in the U.S. House of Representatives and regularly scheduled U.S. Senate elections. Special congressional elections and elections for state and local offices may also appear on ballots.
Election Central will provide separate 2028 Senate and House election guides covering candidates, open seats, important races and election results.
Election Central’s 2028 presidential election coverage will be updated as candidates announce, primary dates are finalized, debates are scheduled and new polling becomes available.