Sen. Rand Paul says he is seriously weighing a potential run for president in 2028, though he has not yet made a final decision. The Kentucky Republican described his chances as “50-50” and indicated he plans to decide after the next election cycle, suggesting he wants to assess how the political landscape evolves.
“We’re thinking about it, and I would say 50-50,” Paul said during an interview with CBS Sunday Morning, as reported by The New York Post. “We’ll make a decision after the election.”
Paul, a longtime advocate of libertarian-leaning policies, voiced concern about what he يرى as a shift within the Republican Party. According to him, the GOP has moved away from its traditional commitment to free markets and limited government, instead embracing a more populist direction in recent years.
“There used to really be a free market/libertarian wing of the party, and now there’s not much left,” Paul said. “In fact, on many days, it feels like I’m the only one in the Senate still pushing for free trade.”
Despite his criticism, Paul believes there may still be an opening for a different political coalition within the party. He pointed to a potential alignment between libertarian-minded voters and pro-business interests as a way to reshape the GOP’s future direction.
“I think there is still a desire among business leaders for those principles,” he said. “There may be a force out there for a different direction rather than continuing down a populist path.”
Paul previously ran for president in 2016 but dropped out after finishing fifth in the Iowa caucuses. Since then, he has at times broken with former President Donald Trump on issues such as tariffs, foreign policy decisions, and federal spending priorities. His positions have underscored ongoing ideological divisions within the Republican Party.
At the same time, early indicators of the 2028 Republican primary field are beginning to take shape. A new Center Square Voters’ Voice Poll shows Vice President JD Vance leading among Republicans and right-leaning independents. In the survey of 952 Republicans and 225 GOP-leaning independents, Vance received 36% support—nearly twice as much as Donald Trump Jr., who placed second with 19%. Fourteen percent of respondents said they were unsure.
However, both Vance and Trump Jr. experienced slight declines compared to a similar poll conducted in October. Meanwhile, Secretary of State Marco Rubio gained traction, receiving 9% overall and ranking as the second-most popular choice among independent voters.
Rubio’s momentum was also evident during a recent gathering of donors at Mar-a-Lago, where former President Trump reportedly asked attendees for their opinions on both Vance and Rubio. According to The Wall Street Journal, Rubio drew louder applause, hinting at growing support among influential Republican donors.
