Exclusive – The next president is unknown… The 2028 US elections have started early… Who is building their path to the White House away from the spotlight?

Abu Dhabi, UAE – The US presidential election hasn’t officially begun, but the battle to succeed Donald Trump has already started. While the American public is preoccupied with the 2026 midterm congressional elections, a host of governors, senators, and Republican and Democratic figures are busy building political capital that could transform into massive campaigns within two years.

What’s even more intriguing is that the next president of the United States may not be the name most talked about today.

Some of the figures currently at the forefront are already well-known, such as Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio in the Republican Party, while on the Democratic side, names like Josh Shapiro, Mark Kelly, Andy Beshear, and Wes Moore are emerging.

But the real race may come from the second tier; from a politician who wins a major local contest, proves their ability to attract independent voters, or emerges from the 2026 election with a new national image. This is where the story of “the next president no one knows” begins.

2028 is not Trump’s battle… but it will be about his legacy.

The most crucial factor shaping the upcoming race is that Trump will be ineligible to run for a third presidential term under the 22nd Amendment to the US Constitution, which prohibits a person from serving more than two terms. However, his removal from the ballot does not mean his removal from the equation. Trump has reshaped the Republican Party over the past few years, and the question that will define the upcoming primaries is: Do Republicans want a president who continues Trump’s project, or one who reshapes it? American analysts indicate that a majority of Republicans still believe the party leadership should continue in Trump’s direction, making the succession of the MAGA movement one of the most significant battles of 2028.

Within the Republican Party: The battle to succeed the most powerful man

So far, two names stand out: JD Vance and Marco Rubio. A May 2026 Emerson College poll showed a remarkably close race between them, with Vance receiving 36% of the support among likely Republican primary voters, compared to 35% for Rubio. Ironically, this very closeness reveals that the race is far from over. Vance represents the younger generation and is more closely aligned with the Trumpian movement, while Rubio possesses foreign policy experience, a strong network within the party, and his current position as Secretary of State. The Washington Post placed both men at the top of its list of potential Republican candidates, noting that the party is already engaged in a debate about who will inherit the Trump legacy.

But what if a “third name” appeared?

This is where the 2026 elections become even more crucial. The midterm elections will be the first major test for those aspiring to build their futures within the Republican Party. A governor who can retain their term or achieve a decisive victory, a senator who can win in a swing state, and an official who can prove their ability to attract independents—all could enter the 2028 race with a vastly different political weight. This opens the door for names like Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Ron DeSantis, Glenn Youngkin, and Ted Cruz, along with others who may emerge over the next two years. And as the old American adage goes, presidential elections don’t always create their stars before the battle; sometimes the battle itself creates them.

Democrats face a tougher question

If Republicans are grappling with the question, “Who will succeed Trump?”, Democrats face a different question: Who can rebuild the party to win in swing states? The Democratic field is broader and more crowded. Notably, several of the most prominent potential candidates come from among governors and senators, not from the party’s traditional leadership. These include Josh Shapiro, Mark Kelly, Andy Beshear, Wes Moore, Jon Ossoff, and Ruben Gallego. The Washington Post lists Shapiro, Kelly, Moore, and Beshear as some of the most promising names to watch in the early Democratic race.

Josh Shapiro: The man from the state that decides the White House

Shapiro may not be the most well-known figure outside the United States, but he possesses a crucial political asset: Pennsylvania. The state is one of the most important swing states in presidential elections, and thus its governor enters the potential race with firsthand experience dealing with the voters who can decide who becomes president. The Washington Post lists him among the top potential Democrats for 2028, particularly given his focus on government performance and his efforts to help Democrats regain control of Congress.

Andy Bashir: The Democrat Who Challenges the Map

In the conservative state of Kentucky, Andy Beshear managed to win two governorships. This isn’t just a local story; it could become a national electoral argument. If a Democrat in 2028 can tell the American voter, “I can win in the areas where my party is losing,” he will be offering a direct answer to one of the party’s biggest crises. This is why Beshear is emerging early in Democratic calculations and has already begun campaigning in South Carolina, the state that will kick off the 2028 Democratic race.

Mark Kelly: An astronaut caught in a political battle

Mark Kelly has one of the most diverse backgrounds in the race. A former astronaut, a former Navy officer, and a senator from Arizona, a key swing state, this combination gives him an image that transcends traditional partisan polarization. The Washington Post lists him among the top potential Democratic contenders, while Axios describes him as a national figure who could enter the presidential race. But Kelly needs one thing before he can become a serious candidate: a major political victory in 2026.

Wes Moore… the man who quietly builds his network

Wes Moore, the governor of Maryland, is one of the most intriguing names on the Democratic radar. Not only is he leading in the polls, but his political position allows him to build a national network without announcing a presidential campaign. The Washington Post notes that he is among the leading Democratic governors being considered for the 2028 presidential race. Moore also has a military background, executive experience, and the ability to engage in national debates with the Trump administration. But his challenge will be proving that his success in Maryland can translate into a national coalition.

John Ossoff: Can Georgia produce a president?

Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff is a different case. Georgia is no longer just a traditional Southern state; it has become a crucial battleground state for the presidency. Therefore, Ossoff’s performance in the 2026 election will be more important than simply retaining his Senate seat.

A victory in Georgia could become a national testament to his ability to connect with swing voters. Conversely, a loss could freeze any serious discussion of 2028.

Ruben Gallego: The Borders and Security Paper

Gallego, the Arizona senator and war veteran, offers another model for the Democratic Party. His potential strength lies in his ability to address issues of security, borders, and immigration from a position distinct from traditional Democratic discourse. In a state like Arizona, where borders, immigration, and security are crucial election issues, this experience could become a national political asset.

And the surprise… Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

On the other end of the Democratic spectrum, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has emerged as one of the most controversial names. She is by no means “unknown,” but she represents a different possibility: Can the progressive wing take control of the Democratic Party after the Biden era? Recent reports suggest growing speculation about her potential candidacy in 2028, given her strong digital and grassroots following within the Democratic left. But her path to the White House faces a fundamental question: Can a progressive candidate with such a clear platform build an electoral coalition that stretches from Democratic cities to swing states?

The real surprise might come in 2026

The US presidential election isn’t just about opinion polls. There’s a more important indicator: who emerges from the 2026 midterm elections stronger than they entered them?

A governor wins by a landslide.

A senator triumphs in a swing state.

A Republican figure succeeds in uniting Trump and independents.

A Democrat reclaims a state considered outside his party’s orbit.

These results could reshuffle the candidates’ rankings overnight.

South Carolina opens its first door

A significant event occurred this month. The Democratic National Committee selected South Carolina as the first state on its 2028 primary schedule, followed by Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Michigan, and Virginia. This decision carries considerable political weight. South Carolina has a substantial Black voter base, and the Democratic Party wants to begin its nominee selection process in a state that will test its ability to connect with this demographic. Furthermore, early primaries offer the winning candidate something polls cannot: momentum. An early victory brings media coverage, funding, and political support, while an early loss can effectively end a candidate’s campaign before it even reaches the major states.

The US presidency will be decided outside of Washington.

There’s a fundamental principle that must be considered when analyzing the 2028 presidential election: the president isn’t elected in Washington. The real battle will be fought in the swing states: Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Arizona, Georgia, and Nevada. Whoever can cultivate a credible political presence in these states will be closer to the White House than a politician with tens of millions of online followers.

The economy: the weapon that could defeat everyone

The names of the candidates may change dozens of times before 2028. But one question will remain: Does the average American feel their life is better? Prices, housing, wages, taxes, jobs, national debt, and energy will be far more influential than many fleeting political battles. Therefore, the winning candidate in 2028 may well be the politician who can transform the election from a battle over Trump into a referendum on the daily lives of Americans.

Foreign policy could redraw the race

International wars and tensions will also factor into the election calculations. The US-Iran war, the tensions in the Middle East, and the future of relations with Europe, China, and Russia will all present candidates with a larger question: Should America continue to be a military interventionist force in global crises, or should the priority be domestic American affairs? The answer to this question could divide the Republican Party itself and could also reignite divisions within the Democratic Party.

The agency’s secret radar

If the goal is to find the “next president no one knows,” we shouldn’t lump all the names together.

Republicans
J.D. Vance
Currently the closest to inheriting the Trump movement.

Marco Rubio
Political and foreign policy experience and a broad party network.

Sarah Huckabee Sanders
Trump affiliation + executive experience + conservative base.

Ron DeSantis
Still has electoral experience and weight within the party, despite the complexities of his relationship with Trump.

Glenn Yongkin
Could become important if Republicans look for a model more capable of appealing to the center.

Democrats
Josh Shapiro
Governor of a swing state with presidential significance.

Andy Beshear
A Democrat who has proven his ability to win in a conservative environment.

Mark Kelly
Security + space + Senator from a swing state.

Wes Moore
Governor with a growing national presence.

Jon Ossoff
Georgia could be key to his rise.

Ruben Gallego
Security, immigration, and borders from a Democratic perspective. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
The Democratic left’s most capable card in mobilizing the popular base.

The surprise that doesn’t appear in today’s polls is that all these names might just be a prelude. American elections have an extraordinary ability to produce candidates who weren’t frontrunners just a few years ago. Therefore, “The next president is unknown” isn’t about predicting who the next president will be. It’s about discovering the path that makes a president.

Who raises the money?

Who builds a national network?

Who succeeds in a swing state?

Who can attract independents?

Who emerges from the 2026 election with a national image?

And who can turn economic, security, and foreign policy crises into a campaign platform?

The 2028 US elections began two years early, but their outcome won’t be decided in 2028 alone. The outlines of the party will begin to emerge in November 2026. Then, the Republican Party will discover whether it can preserve Trump’s legacy without Trump, and the Democrats will learn what kind of leadership can bring the party back into the swing states. The candidate who might enter the White House in January 2029 could be a governor today, a senator facing a tough battle, or a politician in the background waiting for a political explosion. In Washington, the real race isn’t about who is the most famous politician today, but rather who will be the most famous tomorrow.