2028 U.S presidential election (Porvenir)

The United States presidential election of 2028 was the 61st quadrennial United States presidential election. It was held on Saturday, November 4, 2028. In one of the tightest elections in American history, Republican candidate and Indiana Senator Todd Young narrowly defeated incumbent President Kamala Harris, Harris being the first Democratic President to be defeated for reelection since Jimmy Carter in 1980.
The election marked the first president born in the 1970s.
The Douglass Commonwealth took part in a Presidential election for the first time since gaining statehood in 2027.
== Background ==
In April 2025, shortly after winning reelection, U.S President Joe Biden announced his intention to resign from the presidency, citing advanced age and a desire to spend more time with his family. Shortly thereafter, in June of that year, Biden resigned and at an inauguration ceremony, Vice President Kamala Harris—a former U.S Senator from California—became the first female, Black female and Asian-American president. Prior to Harris' ascension, U.S Senator Ruben Gallego of Arizona was sworn in as the first Hispanic vice president. 
==Nominations==
===Democratic Party nominations ===
Democratic candidates
*Kamala Harris (64), U.S President from California (Nominee)
*Nina Turner (61), former state senator from Ohio
*John Fetterman (59), U.S Senator from Pennsylvania
File:Kamala Harris Vice Presidential Portrait.jpg|U.S President Kamala Harris of California
File:Nina Turner in 2016.jpg|Former state senator Nina Turner of Ohio
File:John Fetterman Governor.png|U.S Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania
As incumbent president, Harris was widely considered the favorite for the nomination despite her unpopularity.
Former Ohio state senator Nina Turner served as Harris's chief opposition, offering a challenge from the left and collecting the support of the Democratic-Socialists in the Party who considered Harris a neoliberal. U.S Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania also ran on rebuilding the Midwest, but was surprisingly overshadowed by Turner. Harris refused to debate either, thus Turner and Fetterman held their own debate where they lambasted Harris for her "cowardice", similarly to the GOP primary debate of 2020.
Harris's campaign initially viewed Turner as a paltry opponent, but following a gaffe by Harris concerning the South China Sea, Turner began to gain steam. Harris however quickly recovered, edging Turner in Iowa and walking away with New Hampshire, clinching the nomination by March. At the Democratic National Convention in Manchester, New Hampshire, Harris and Vice President Ruben Gallego of Arizona were renominated.
===Republican Party nominations ===
Republican candidates 
*Todd Young (56), U.S Senator from Indiana (Nominee)
*Kelly Armstrong (52), Governor of North Dakota
*Alex Becker (40), CEO from Texas
*Tom Cotton (51), U.S Senator from Arkansas
*Nikki Haley (57), former U.N Ambassador and Governor of South Carolina
*J.D Vance (44), U.S Senator from Ohio
*Glenn Youngkin (62), former Governor of Virginia
*Jon Huntsman Jr (68), former Russian ambassador and Governor of Utah
*Marjorie Taylor Greene (54), U.S Representative from Georgia
*Dan Crenshaw (44), U.S House Minority Whip from Texas
*Rand Paul (66), U.S Senator from Kentucky
*Tim Scott (63), former U.S Senator from South Carolina
*Matt Rosendale (68), U.S Senator from Montana
*James Lankford (60), U.S Senator from Oklahoma
*Scott Walker (61), former Governor of Wisconsin
*Josh Hawley (49), U.S Senator from Missouri
*Mick Mulvaney (61), former OMB Director from South Carolina
Todd Young.jpg|U.S Senator Todd Young of Indiana (Nominee)
File:Kellyarmstrong.jpg|Governor Kelly Armstrong of North Dakota
AlexBecker.png|CEO Alex Becker of Texas
Tom Cotton.jpg|U.S Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas
Nikki Haley official photo.jpg|Former U.N Ambassador Nikki Haley of South Carolina
File:Senator Vance official portrait. 118th Congress.jpg|U.S Senator J.D Vance of Ohio
File:Youngkin 2.0.png|Former Governor Glenn Youngkin of Virginia
John huntsman.png|Former Russian Ambassador Jon Huntsman Jr. of Utah
File:Dan Crenshaw.png|U.S House Majority Whip Dan Crenshaw of Texas
File:Marjorie Jewish Space Laser Greene.png|U.S Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia
RandPaulAged.jpg|U.S Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky
File:Tim Scott, official portrait, 113th Congress.jpg|Former U.S Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina
JoshHawley.jpg|U.S Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri
File:James Lankford.png|U.S Senator James Lankford of Oklahoma
File:Walker.jpg|Former Governor Scott Walker of Wisconsin
File:Jim Justice WVGov.jpg|U.S Senator Jim Justice of West Virginia
463px-Mick Mulvaney official photo.jpg|Former OMB Director Mick Mulvaney of South Carolina
Having lost the White House and the last two elections, the GOP stepped back and looked at their problem; Donald Trump and Ron DeSantis were both ultra-conservative and had served to isolate moderates and independents. Thus, the search began for a more centrist candidate.
Indiana Senator Todd Young was an obvious choice. Young and moderate, Young was well-liked by John Thune and the GOP leadership. When Young announced his candidacy in 2027, he quickly garnered the majority of Republican support.
Young did not however go unchallenged. North Dakota Governor Kelly Armstrong, a staunch social conservative and religious fundamentalist, railed against Young, labeling him a "RINO". CEO Alex Becker served to split Young's backing among business minded, "Rockefeller" Republicans.
In the Iowa caucus, Armstrong upset Young. Days later, Young carried New Hampshire.
Becker dropped out after losing South Carolina, leaving the race essentially between Young and Armstrong. On Super Tuesday, Young carried the majority of states. Armstrong dropped out, handing the nomination to Young. At the Republican National Convention in Orlando, Florida, Young chose North Carolina Senator Ted Budd as his running mate.
==General Election Campaign==
The election mostly focused on the economy and the impact worsened relations with China had left on the country. Young tied high gas prices and unemployment to the policies of the Harris Administration that he claimed had served to irritate and isolate Beijing. Young promised to do for the country what he did for Indiana, and to work with trade partners to make deals that put America first while also giving other nations fair deals that they would accept. Harris meanwhile cited the success of herself and former President Biden in rebuilding bridges with Chicanos. 
Despite success in the three previous presidential elections, third party voters and independents failed to corral around a candidate. Jesse Ventura declined to run a second time with the Green Party, and the Libertarians were reeling after disastrous runs in 2020 and 2024. Young beat Harris in appealing to moderates and was viewed as the "dead-center" candidate.
==Results==
On 4 November, the lowest number of voters since 1996 went to the polls, with just 49% of Americans signing their ballots. When the presidency is open, Americans generally vote more than when there is an incumbent President. This was a sign of just how complacent the populace was at the time.
Democratic talking heads on NBC, CBS, and ABC were shocked to see Harris lose Gallego's home state of Arizona. However, the election was still considered a tossup for most of the night thanks to tight vote counts in the swing states and American South. By the late hours of election night, results hinged on Ohio. Young led Harris in the electoral college, but still lacked the 270 electoral votes needed to secure the presidency. By 5:00 AM CST, it became apparent that Young held a small lead over Harris, and the state was soon called for Young. Harris, unsatisfied, sued the Ohio Elections Commission.
On 18 December, the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that the Commission's ruling was correct, and that Young had carried Ohio. Harris conceded, and Young became President-elect.
There was great controversy over the Supreme Court's ruling. Some claimed Ohio Governor and Young's friend Jon Husted had colluded with the Young campaign in rigging the vote. Nevertheless, these accusations were never proven.
Category:Scenario:Porvenir
Category:Elections (Porvenir)
Category:US elections 2028