Hawley shuts talk of 2028 presidential run: 'no intention of doing so'

Hawley was first elected in 2018 and quickly became a leading populist figure in the upper chamber.

By Ben Whedon

Published: September 16, 2026 1:32pm

Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., this week confirmed that he would not seek the Republican nomination for president in 2028, eliminating one possible competitor to succeed President Donald Trump.

Hawley was first elected in 2018 and quickly became a leading populist figure in the upper chamber. His general alignment with the newer, Trump-aligned faction of the political right had fueled speculation that he could seek to lead the party.

“No, I have no intention of doing so, period,” Hawley told the Washington Examiner.

At present, Vice President JD Vance appears to be the heir apparent to Trump, with speculation that he could launch a joint ticket with Secretary of State Marco Rubio as his vice preisdent growing increasingly common.

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, is also known to be exploring a possible run.

Ben Whedon is the Chief Political Correspondent for Just the News. Follow him on X.