2028 United States Presidential Election (DeSantis, Harris)

The 2028 United States presidential election took place on Tuesday, November 7, 2028. It was the 60th quadrennial presidential election. Voters selected presidential electors who voted on December 14, 2028,[2] to select a new president and vice president. The election occurred simultaneously alongside elections for the House of Representatives, Senate, and various state and local-level elections.
The Democratic ticket of incumbent Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigeg was defeated by the Republican ticket of former Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Missouri Senator Josh Hawley. DeSantis received 322 electoral votes and 50.2% of the popular vote, while Harris received 216 electoral votes and 49.0% of the popular vote.
The election marked an end to five straight Democratic victories in the popular vote. It was the first election in United States history where the two Presidential candidates were also the Vice Presidential candidates for the previous election. It was the largest win for a Republican since George H.W Bush's victory forty years earlier. Ron DeSantis was the first Republican to win the state of Minnesota since Richard Nixon in 1972. 
==Background==
Joe Biden had a rough second term. The economy continued to stagnate, with GDP growing at an incredibly slow rate. Inflation peaked in 2027, before beginning to drop by the beginning of 2028. Investors were further shaken up by the stock market crash of 2027. 
Joe Biden chose to support India in the Sino-Indian War which broke out in 2026. However, by 2028, India was on the defensive and China was solidifying its control over Asia, further causing speculation about the geriatric president's ability to run the country.
==Democratic Nomination==
Candidates for the Democratic nomination included incumbent Vice President Kamala Harris, New York Senator Alexandria Ocasio-Cortes, Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, former governor Gretchen Whitmer, U.S Representative Ayanna Presley, and Senator Amy Klobuchar.
After months of tough competition with Ocasio-Cortes, Harris secured the nomination by late June. She chose Buttigieg as her running mate. 
==Republican Nomination==
Despite Donald Trump's loss in two presidential elections, many Republicans wanted to him run yet again in 2028. In May 2026, Trump flatly denied this notion citing his age, however, he insisted on the right to pick the next candidate for the Republican Party. Candidates for the nomination included former Vice President Mike Pence, Senator Ted Cruz, Senator Tom Cotton, Senator Tim Scott, Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin, former Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, former Texas Governor Greg Abbott, and frontrunner former Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. 
While DeSantis led in the polls for the nomination, Trump initially seemed to lean towards choosing either Haley or Cotton, two staunch Trump loyalists. On May 10th 2028, DeSantis paved a visit to Trump's mansion at Mar-El-Lago where he promised the former President legal immunity and other favors in exchange for Trump's endorsement. The following week Trump threw his support behind DeSantis, securing the Senator's nomination. DeSantis picked Trump loyalist Missouri Senator Josh Hawley as his running mate.
==Campaign==
DeSantis held a narrow lead in the polls throughout the spring, leading 48% to 47% on aggregate over Harris. The Florida man campaigned on his conservative record as Governor and Senator which DeSantis argued was necessary for economic recovery, while Harris mostly focused on LGBTQ and women's rights. Following signs of economic recovery throughout the summer, Harris's lead in the polls increased to where she was leading 50% to 48% over DeSantis. DeSantis had a good performance in the debates in the fall. The week before Election Day, the polls predicted a tie in the popular vote: 49% to 49%.
==Results==
Ron DeSantis won the election with 322 electoral votes and 50.2% of the popular vote. Kamala Harris came in second place with 216 electoral votes and 49.0% of the popular vote, the worst showing for a Democrat since 2004.
Ron DeSantis flipped a total of five states from the result in 2024: Arizona, Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and Minnesota, the first Republican to completely sweep the rust belt since Richard Nixon in 1972. It was also the best popular vote showing for a Republican in five elections, ending twenty years of Democratic victories in the popular vote.
Category:Elections