With the 2024 election now over, I was just curious about who were the leading candidates for president in 2028.  I realize different sites will have different odds, but the below is based upon the site that I pulled up first.  Below are the Republicans with the best odds:

1.  JD Vance - No surprise.  Assuming the Trump second term is successful, I would be surprised if he wasn't the Republican candidate.

2.  Ron DeSantis - He has the qualifications.  By 2028, he will have served 2 full terms as governor of the third largest state.  His re-election was by a margin over 20%.  The usual criticism of governors running for president is lack of foreign affairs and military experience.  However, DeSantis has foreign affairs experience from serving in Congress and military experience from serving in the Navy.  The questions on him are whether he is charismatic enough and whether Republicans hold a grudge for challenging Trump in 2024. 

3.  Tulsi Gabbard - The former Congresswoman is expected to serve some major role in the Trump administration.  She would be a great candidate at attracting independent and moderate voters in a general election.  The question is how much does her prior voting record and stance on issues as a former Democrat turn off Republican voters.

Much more interesting are the Democrats with the best odds:

1.  Michelle Obama - Unlike Hillary who was a senator for her first run and then secretary of state for her second run, Obama has no experience legitimately qualifying her to be President of the United States unless you count first lady and I don't.  I think it's highly unlikely she runs.  I hear she hates campaigning.  I also think she enjoys her current popularity which would inevitably nose dive as soon as she became a candidate.

2.  Gavin Newsom - I do think he runs and is maybe the candidate.  He is governor of the largest states and is reasonably charismatic.  His problem is that he's going to have to defend his terrible record as governor.  Maybe he can convince Democrats, but Republicans and I think many Independents will hate it in the general election.

3.  Hillary Clinton - LOL!  She lost before and she's just gotten older.  I would be very surprised if she actually attempted to run again.

4.  Oprah Winfrey - She's very light on experience, although I'm sure Democrats will argue that being CEO of Harpo Productions and the Oprah Winfrey Network somehow qualifies her as a successful businessperson like Trump.  I also just don't think that she'll run.  I believe she only did what she did for the Harris campaign because of a $1 million payment to Harpo Productions, aka herself.  If I was paid a million dollars, I would probably hold a town hall for Harris too.

5.  Kamala Harris - LOL again!  She had an embarrassing loss and she's going to run again!?!?!?!

6.  Josh Shapiro - I think he would be one of the tougher opponents for the Republicans.  The question is whether Democrats will nominate him given that he is Jewish and holds some moderate political positions.  I find it interesting that he's so far down this list of candidates.  He's less likely than Hillary and Harris?

7 (tie).  AOC - LOL!  Never mind that she's an idiot, she's so far to the left that she would lose the general election in a landslide if she was the candidate.

7 (tie) Tim Walz -  I can't stop LOL'ing!  He was the VP candidate on a very poor campaign and got destroyed in the VP debate.

7 (tie) Ivanka Trump - She was listed as a Democrat and I believe it's true that she is a registered Democrat.  She seems to be trying to distance herself from Donald Trump this time around.  Does that mean she has political aspirations as a Democrat or that she simply wants nothing to do with politics anymore?  Would Democrats actually vote for a Trump?  I seriously doubt it.  

7 (tie).  Gretchen Whitmer - I think she would be one of the better candidates for the Democrats.  It's funny to see her this far down the list and having equal or lower odds than Hillary, Harris, Walz and AOC.  

The Democrats have a very weak bench.

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