As of Aug. 25, 2025, a total of 175 candidates had filed with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) to run in the 2028 presidential election. Of these candidates, 39 were Democrats, 44 were Republicans, and the other 92 were independent or minor party candidates.
Over the course of a presidential election cycle, hundreds of individuals will file with the FEC to run for president. Recent election cycles have seen a sharp uptick in the total number of filed candidates, likely due in part to the 2015 introduction of e-filing at the FEC, which allowed individuals to submit candidacy forms online rather than by mail.
The most candidates filed in 2016, when 1,762 individuals filed with the FEC. In 2020 and 2024, respectively, 1,212 and 1,336 candidates filed to run for president. The most Democrats filed in 2020 (323) and the most Republicans filed in 2024 (312).
In order to file to run for president with the FEC, an individual needs to submit a form to the agency either by mail or online. A candidate may declare his or her candidacy at any time, but once he or she receives contributions or makes expenditures in excess of $5,000, the candidate must register with the FEC within 15 days.
To see the full list of the 175 candidates who have filed to run for president in 2028, click here.
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