We are less than a year into Donald Trump’s latest spell as President as the United States of America, but yet for many eyes are already on 2028 and who could succeed the two-time President.
Republican Front-Runners and Trump’s Influence
Trump, who won in 2016 and 2024 has been a divisive character in his time in politics and his second-in-command this time round, JD Vance is currently 11/5 with Bet365 to follow on his work when the President finishes his second term in 2028.
Ladbrokes have Vance at 5/2 as he currently is the bookies favourite to keep the United States under the control of the Republican party after the polls open in November that year.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom is the man most likely to be opposing him in the polls according to the bookmakers as the governor has upped his words of war with Trump recently, even mocking the President’s all-capitals tweeting style on his own California governor twitter account.
His ability to take on Trump on social media, as well as the fact he is governor of the fifth greatest economy in the world, do have Newsom in a strong position with Bet365 having him at 5/1 and Ladbrokes having him at 6/1.
Ironically his biggest opponent for the White House might not even come from the Republican party as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY) is also among the front runners when it comes to the Democratic nomination.
Democratic Contenders for 2028
Ocasio-Cortez — “AOC” to fans and detractors alike, is the major shift to the left that many in the Democratic party are calling out for.
Bet365 currently have her at 14/1 to become the next President, while Ladbrokes have her at 16/1.
Another thought highly of in the Democratic party is Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.
Buttigieg was one of the surprises of the 2020 cycle, performing better in the primaries than many people had predicted and he is currently 22/1 at Bet365 and 25/1 at Ladbrokes.
It is Vance, though, that is seen as the heir apparent currently.
During an appearance on “My View” with Lara Trump, the daughter-in-law of President Donald Trump, Vance said he “doesn’t like thinking about” a potential presidential bid, and would rather focus on his current role.
“If we do a good job in 2025 and 2026, then we can talk about the politics in 2027,” Vance said during a segment on Saturday. “I really think the American people are so fed up with folks who are already running for the next job, seven months into the current one.”
He used his time on the show to criticise potential Democratic candidates for 2028, such as Newsom and Buttigieg, pointing out that they attempt to mimic Donald Trump’s distinctive style online.
And you can see why they do.
Donald Trump has run in three US elections, winning two and losing one.
He polled 77m votes in 2024 and 81million in 2020.
Back in 2016, when he first won, he brought in 62 million, showing that over time he has become more popular, instead of less.
The Role of Trump’s Family and Other Outsiders
That is why Trump taking on an unheard of third term is not being ruled out by some bookmakers either.
Nor is the fact that Trump might look inside his own family for his successor.
Donald Trump Jr has been by the side of his father since he first entered into the political arena and is currently priced at 33/1 at Bet365 and 25/1 on Ladbrokes to take up his father’s title when it comes to the next election.
His sister, Ivanka Trump, is also among those being backed as she is priced at 33/1 on Bet365 and 33/1 on Ladbrokes to make a run at it also.
One name that is also getting some backing, and one that also has history with Trump, is Kamala Harris.
Harris lost out to the current President in the 2024 election, taking over from Joe Biden when he pulled out of the race due to ill-health.
Harris may not be the most popular Democrat to run, such was her terrible showing in the last election, but she is currently 50/1 with Bet365 and Ladbrokes to go one-step better than she did last time.
Another lady who has a history with the White House who is getting some attention when it comes to 2028, is the former First Lady Michelle Obama.
Obama has never hidden her political aspirations, and is seen by many as the natural successor to the work started by her husband Barack Obama during his Presidency from 2008-16.
Michelle is currently viewed as somewhat of an outsider at the moment as she is 66/1 with Bet365 and 25/1 with Ladbrokes.
All the odds point to it being between Vance and Newsom at the moment, but three years is a long time in politics.
With the way Trump rules, Vance is never going to be far from the headlines, and he has already made global headlines after his involvement in what was an historic spat between Trump, himself and President Zelensky in the Oval Office earlier this year.
Vance was seen by many as the one who led the attack on Zelensky before Donald Trump joined the fray.
In the next three years Vance will have plenty more chances to come up against global leaders, and show himself as a worthy leader while doing so – and all the while he will have a long list of democratic hopefuls ready to make their own case by pointing out where he goes wrong along the way.