Predicting the 2028 Republican presidential nominee: An informational overview

The 2028 U.S. presidential primary cycle remains several years away, and no nominee has been selected. Crypto.com Predict markets provide probabilistic insights based on user activity, not forecasts. Below is a factual, neutral profile of several public figures currently appearing in Predict markets — without implying any expected outcome.

Current market-implied chances (Crypto.com Predict, Dec. 10)

• JD Vance — 54%
• Marco Rubio — 9%
• Ron DeSantis — 4%
• Vivek Ramaswamy — 2%
• Ted Cruz — 2%
• Glenn Youngkin — 2%

Percentages reflect activity on Predict as of Dec. 10 and may change over time.

Predict on Crypto.com:Republican Presidential Nominee 2028

JD Vance 54% to become Republican nominee

JD Vance has served as the 50th Vice President of the United States since Jan. 20, 2025. He assumed office following the 2024 election. In this role, his constitutional duties include presiding over the U.S. Senate and casting tie-breaking votes when required. Since inauguration, he has administered oaths of office for federal officials and has participated in executive-branch meetings, briefings, and administrative functions associated with the vice presidency.

Before becoming vice president, Vance served as a U.S. Senator from Ohio (Jan. 3, 2023 – Jan. 20, 2025). During his Senate tenure, he served on committees such as the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. His legislative record includes sponsorship and co-sponsorship of bills related to industrial policy, transportation issues, and federal regulatory matters.

Before holding elected office, Vance worked in the private sector and authored the 2016 book Hillbilly Elegy. His entry into public office began with the 2022 Ohio Senate race, which he won, leading to his single partial Senate term prior to becoming vice president.

Marco Rubio 9% to become Republican nominee

Marco Rubio has served as a U.S. Senator from Florida since Jan. 3, 2011. During his Senate career, he has served on several major committees, including the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, and the Senate Committee on Appropriations. His legislative record includes sponsorship and co-sponsorship of bills concerning foreign policy, federal emergency programs, small-business assistance, and intelligence operations.

In addition to committee assignments, Rubio has participated in Senate proceedings related to federal budgets, national-security legislation, and foreign-relations authorizations. His work on the Intelligence Committee has included classified briefings and oversight responsibilities consistent with committee operations.

Before entering the U.S. Senate, Rubio served in the Florida House of Representatives (2000–2008), where he held several leadership roles, including Speaker of the Florida House (2006–2008). During his time as Speaker, he oversaw legislative scheduling and chamber operations and supported the passage of various state-level bills relating to taxation, insurance, and education policy.

Rubio also ran for President during the 2016 Republican primary, participating in nationally broadcast debates and securing multiple state-level primary results.

Ron DeSantis 4% to become Republican nominee

Ron DeSantis has served as the Governor of Florida since Jan. 8, 2019. He was re-elected in 2022. As governor, he has signed multiple state budgets, including appropriations acts covering education funding, infrastructure, disaster response, and tax-related provisions. His administration has issued executive orders concerning emergency management, public-health operations, and state agency directives. He has overseen Florida’s responses to hurricanes, tropical storms, and other declared emergencies.

Prior to becoming governor, DeSantis served as a U.S. Representative for Florida’s 6th congressional district (2013–2018). In Congress, he served on committees such as the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. His legislative record includes sponsoring and co-sponsoring bills related to government oversight, defense matters, and federal spending procedures.

In 2018, DeSantis resigned from the House of Representatives to focus on the gubernatorial transition process following his election.

Vivek Ramaswamy 2% to become Republican nominee

Vivek Ramaswamy is a business executive and author. He has not held elected public office. He founded Roivant Sciences in 2014, a biopharmaceutical company that created subsidiary entities focused on drug development. Ramaswamy served as the company’s Chief Executive Officer for several years and later transitioned to roles involving board membership and investment management.

He has also founded or co-founded additional companies in the biotechnology and technology sectors, including entities related to data analytics and pharmaceutical portfolio management. His corporate activities have included public-company leadership, intellectual-property development, and clinical-trial program oversight through associated subsidiaries.

Ramaswamy is the author of several books, including Woke, Inc. (2021), Nation of Victims (2022), and other nonfiction works discussing corporate governance and public-policy themes.

In the political sphere, Ramaswamy was a declared candidate in the 2024 Republican presidential primaries, where he participated in debates, filed for primary ballots in multiple states, and conducted a national campaign. He suspended his campaign in early 2024.

Ted Cruz 2% to become Republican nominee

Ted Cruz has served as a U.S. Senator from Texas since Jan. 3, 2013. In the Senate, he has served on committees including the Senate Committee on the Judiciary, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and the Joint Economic Committee. His legislative work includes sponsorship and co-sponsorship of bills related to federal taxation, regulatory policy, and judicial matters.

Before joining the U.S. Senate, Cruz served as the Solicitor General of Texas (2003–2008). In that role, he represented the State of Texas in appellate litigation, including cases before the U.S. Supreme Court, where he presented oral arguments on multiple occasions. At the time of his service, he was the youngest solicitor general in the country.

Cruz also worked in private legal practice and served in positions within the U.S. Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission before his Texas statewide appointment.

In 2016, Cruz ran in the Republican presidential primaries, winning several state contests and participating in nationally broadcast debates.

Glenn Youngkin 2% to become Republican nominee

Glenn Youngkin has served as the Governor of Virginia since Jan. 15, 2022. As governor, he has signed state budgets for the 2022–2024 fiscal cycles, including appropriations involving tax policy, education programs, and infrastructure funding. His administration has issued executive orders across areas such as education, regulatory review, and state agency governance. Youngkin has also overseen emergency-management operations during severe-weather events affecting Virginia.

Before assuming office, Youngkin spent decades in the private sector. He served in senior leadership roles at The Carlyle Group, including as Co-CEO (2018–2020). His responsibilities included investment oversight, corporate management, and operational supervision across global investment portfolios. Youngkin retired from the company in 2020, ahead of entering public office.

During the 2021 Virginia gubernatorial race, Youngkin won the general election and subsequently formed a transition team for his incoming administration. His term has included collaboration with the Virginia General Assembly on legislation involving budget amendments, education standards, and regulatory policy.

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Economic and market forecasts are subject to change without notice. Figures and projections in this article are based on available data as of October 2025, with partial extrapolation during the government shutdown. Actual Bureau of Labor Statistics releases may differ materially once regular publication resumes.

Sources

JD Vance — Official Sources

Vice President of the United States (2025–present)

White House (official): https://www.whitehouse.gov
(VP page updates dynamically; archived VP pages are maintained by NARA once terms conclude.)

U.S. Senator from Ohio (2023–2025)

U.S. Senate biography: https://www.senate.gov/senators/118thCongress/VanceJD.htm

Senate Committee Assignments

Senate Commerce, Science & Transportation Committee: https://www.commerce.senate.gov

Senate Banking, Housing & Urban Affairs Committee: https://www.banking.senate.gov

Marco Rubio — Official Sources

U.S. Senator from Florida (2011–present)

U.S. Senate biography: https://www.rubio.senate.gov

Committee Assignments

Senate Foreign Relations Committee: https://www.foreign.senate.gov

Senate Select Committee on Intelligence: https://www.intelligence.senate.gov

Senate Appropriations Committee: https://www.appropriations.senate.gov

Florida House of Representatives (2000–2008)

Florida House archives: https://www.myfloridahouse.gov

Speaker of the Florida House (2006–2008)

Florida Legislature leadership history: https://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Representatives/speaker.aspx

Ron DeSantis — Official Sources

Governor of Florida (2019–present)

Office of the Governor: https://www.flgov.com

Executive Orders: https://www.flgov.com/executive-orders

State Budgets Signed

Florida budget archives: https://floridarevenue.com/taxes/budget

U.S. Representative (2013–2018)

House of Representatives biography: https://history.house.gov/People/Detail/11816

Committee Assignments (Past)

House Oversight Committee: https://oversight.house.gov

House Foreign Affairs Committee: https://foreignaffairs.house.gov

Vivek Ramaswamy — Official Sources

Business Roles

Roivant Sciences (founding): https://roivant.com

Publicly Documented Corporate Leadership

SEC filings for Roivant (leadership roles and dates): https://www.sec.gov/cgi-bin/browse-edgar?action=getcompany&CIK=0001618521

Books Authored

Library of Congress catalog listing (Woke, Inc., Nation of Victims): https://catalog.loc.gov

2024 Presidential Campaign (Official Filings)

Federal Election Commission candidate filings: https://www.fec.gov/data/candidates/president/

Ted Cruz — Official Sources

U.S. Senator from Texas (2013–present)

U.S. Senate biography: https://www.cruz.senate.gov

Committee Assignments

Senate Judiciary Committee: https://www.judiciary.senate.gov

Senate Commerce, Science, & Transportation Committee: https://www.commerce.senate.gov

Joint Economic Committee: https://www.jec.senate.gov

Solicitor General of Texas (2003–2008)

Texas Attorney General historic leadership list: https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov

Supreme Court Oral Arguments

Oyez (official transcript repository for SCOTUS cases): https://www.oyez.org/advocates/r_b_r_cruz 

2016 Presidential Campaign

FEC filings: https://www.fec.gov/data/candidates/president/

Glenn Youngkin — Official Sources

Governor of Virginia (2022–present)

Office of the Governor: https://www.governor.virginia.gov

Executive Orders (full archive): https://www.governor.virginia.gov/newsroom/executive-actions 

State Budgets Signed

Commonwealth of Virginia budget office: https://www.doa.virginia.gov/budget/ 

Carlyle Group Executive Roles

Carlyle Group leadership archives: https://www.carlyle.com

SEC filings confirming executive positions: https://www.sec.gov/cgi-bin/browse-edgar?action=getcompany&CIK=0001527166 

Virginia Emergency Management Actions

Virginia Department of Emergency Management: https://www.vaemergency.gov