2024 Republican Party presidential primaries

The candidates in this section have declared their candidacies and meet one or more of the following criteria:

• their campaign has received substantial major media coverage.
• the candidate is a current or previous holder of a significant elected office (such as president, vice president, governor, U.S. senator, U.S. representative).
• the candidate has been included in at least five national polls.

Declared major candidates for the 2024 Republican Party presidential primaries

Name		Born	Experience	Home state	Campaign Announcement date	Ref.
Ryan Binkley		November 19, 1967 (age 55) Columbus, Georgia	Co-founder and CEO of Generational Equity Group (2006–present) Co-founder and lead pastor of Create Church (2014–present)	Texas	Campaign April 23, 2023 FEC filing[16][17] Website	[18]
Doug Burgum		August 1, 1956 (age 67) Arthur, North Dakota	Governor of North Dakota (2016–present) Senior VP of Microsoft Business Solutions Group (2002–2007) President of Great Plains Software (1984–2001)	North Dakota	Campaign June 7, 2023 FEC filing[19] Website	[20]
Chris Christie		September 6, 1962 (age 61) Newark, New Jersey	Governor of New Jersey (2010–2018) Candidate for president (2016) U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey (2002–2008)	New Jersey	Campaign June 6, 2023 FEC filing[21] Website	[22]
Ron DeSantis		September 14, 1978 (age 45) Jacksonville, Florida	Governor of Florida (2019–present) U.S. Representative from FL-06 (2013–2018)	Florida	Campaign May 24, 2023 FEC filing[23][24][25] Website	[26]
Nikki Haley		January 20, 1972 (age 51) Bamberg, South Carolina	Ambassador to the United Nations (2017–2018) Governor of South Carolina (2011–2017) South Carolina State Representative (2005–2011)	South Carolina	Campaign February 14, 2023 FEC filing[27] Website	[28]
Asa Hutchinson		December 3, 1950 (age 72) Bentonville, Arkansas	Governor of Arkansas (2015–2023) Under Secretary of Homeland Security (2003–2005) Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration (2001–2003)	Arkansas	Campaign April 6, 2023 FEC filing[29] Website	[30]
Mike Pence		June 7, 1959 (age 64) Columbus, Indiana	Vice President of the United States (2017–2021) Governor of Indiana (2013–2017) U.S. Representative from IN-06 (2003–2013) U.S. Representative from IN-02 (2001–2003)	Indiana	Campaign June 5, 2023 FEC filing[31] Website	[32]
Vivek Ramaswamy		August 9, 1985 (age 38) Cincinnati, Ohio	Executive chairman of Strive Asset Management (2022–present) CEO of Roivant Sciences (2014–2021)	Ohio	Campaign February 21, 2023 FEC filing[33][34] Website	[35]
Tim Scott		September 19, 1965 (age 58) North Charleston, South Carolina	U.S. Senator from South Carolina (2013–present) U.S. Representative from SC-01 (2011–2013) South Carolina State Representative (2009–2011)	South Carolina	Campaign May 19, 2023 FEC filing[36][37] Website	[38]
Donald Trump		June 14, 1946 (age 77) Queens, New York	President of the United States (2017–2021) Chairman of The Trump Organization (1971–2017)	Florida[lower-alpha 2]	Campaign November 15, 2022 FEC filing[39][40] Website	[41]

The candidates in this section are otherwise notable, but have not met the criteria outlined above.

• John Anthony Castro, tax consultant and perennial candidate[42]
• E. W. Jackson, pastor and nominee for lieutenant governor of Virginia in 2013[43]

The candidates in this section have suspended their campaigns, or have otherwise ceased campaigning and ended their bids for the nomination before any primary contests were held.

Withdrawn major candidates for the 2024 Republican Party presidential primaries

Name	Born	Experience	Home state	Campaign announced	Campaign suspended	Campaign	Ref.
Larry Elder	April 27, 1952 (age 71) Los Angeles, California	Host of The Larry Elder Show (1993–2022) Candidate for Governor of California in the 2021 recall election	California	April 20, 2023	October 26, 2023 (endorsed Trump)	Campaign FEC filing[44] Website	[45][46]
Perry Johnson	January 23, 1948 (age 75) Dolton, Illinois	Founder of Perry Johnson Registrars, Inc. (1994–present) Disqualified candidate for Governor of Michigan in 2022	Michigan	March 2, 2023	October 20, 2023 (endorsed Trump)	Campaign FEC filing[47] Website	[48][49][50]
Corey Stapleton	September 17, 1967 (age 56) Seattle, Washington	Montana Secretary of State (2017–2021) Montana State Senator (2001–2009)	Montana	November 11, 2022 Exploratory committee: March 10, 2022	October 13, 2023	Campaign FEC filing[51] Website	[52][53][54]
Will Hurd	August 19, 1977 (age 46) San Antonio, Texas	U.S. Representative from TX-23 (2015–2021)	Texas	June 22, 2023	October 9, 2023 (endorsed Haley)	Campaign FEC filing[55] Website	[56][57]
Francis Suarez	October 6, 1977 (age 45) Miami, Florida	Mayor of Miami (2017–present) Member of the Miami City Commission (2009–2017)	Florida	June 14, 2023	August 29, 2023	Campaign FEC filing[58] Website[lower-alpha 3]	[59][60]

Other notable individuals who were not considered major candidates and who withdrew from the race before the beginning of the primary season include:

• Steve Laffey, mayor of Cranston, Rhode Island (2003–2007)[61][62]

As of October 2023, the following notable individuals have expressed an interest in running for president within the previous six months.

• John Bolton, 27th United States National Security Advisor (2018–2019), 25th United States Ambassador to the United Nations (2005–2006), 3rd Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Affairs (2001–2005), 18th Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs (1989–1993), U.S. Assistant Attorney General (1985–1989)[63]
• Larry Hogan, 62nd Governor of Maryland (2015–2023), Maryland Secretary of Appointments (2003–2007). Considering concurrent run with No Labels. Stated that if he did run he would continue as an Independent if Trump wins the nomination.[64]
• Rick Perry, 14th United States Secretary of Energy (2017–2019), 47th Governor of Texas (2000–2015), 39th Lieutenant Governor of Texas (1999–2000), 9th Agriculture Commissioner of Texas (1991–1999), Member of the Texas House of Representatives (1985–1991)[65]

As of October 2023, there has been speculation about the potential candidacy of the following notable individuals within the previous six months.

• Glenn Youngkin, 74th Governor of Virginia (2022–present)[66][67] (will only consider after the 2023 Virginia elections)

The following notable individuals have been the subject of speculation about their possible candidacy but have publicly denied interest in running.

• Marsha Blackburn, U.S. Senator from Tennessee (2019–present), United States Representative from TN-07 (2003–2019), member of the Tennessee Senate from the 23rd district (1999–2003)[68] (endorsed Trump, running for re-election)[69][70]
• Tucker Carlson, host of Tucker Carlson Tonight (2016–2023) and co-founder of The Daily Caller[71][72][73]
• Liz Cheney, United States Representative from WY-AL (2017–2023), Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs (2002–2004, 2005–2009) (considering independent run)[74]
• Chad Connelly, CEO of Faith Wins and Chairman of the South Carolina Republican Party (2011-2013)[75][76]
• Tom Cotton, U.S. Senator from Arkansas (2015–present), United States Representative from AR-04 (2013–2015)[77]
• Dan Crenshaw, United States Representative from TX-02 (2019–present)[78][79]
• Ted Cruz, U.S. Senator from Texas (2013–present), 3rd Texas Solicitor General (2003–2008), candidate for president in 2016 (running for re-election)[80][81]
• Joni Ernst, U.S. Senator from Iowa (2015–present), member of the Iowa Senate from the 12th district (2011–2014), Montgomery County Auditor (2005–2011)[82][83]
• Josh Hawley, U.S. Senator from Missouri (2019–present), 42nd Missouri Attorney General (2017–2019)[84] (running for re-election)[85]
• Brian Kemp, 83rd Governor of Georgia (2019–present), 27th Georgia Secretary of State (2010–2018), member of the Georgia Senate from the 46th district (2003–2007)[86][87]
• Adam Kinzinger, United States Representative from IL-16 (2011–2023)[88][89]
• Pat McCrory, 74th Governor of North Carolina (2013–2017) and 53rd Mayor of Charlotte (1995–2009)[90]
• Kristi Noem, 33rd Governor of South Dakota (2019–present), United States Representative from SD-AL (2011–2019)[91] (endorsed Trump)[92]
• Dan Patrick, 42nd Lieutenant Governor of Texas (2015–present), member of the Texas Senate from the 7th district (2007–2015)[93][94] (endorsed Trump)[95]
• Rand Paul, U.S. Senator from Kentucky (2011–present), candidate for president in 2016[96][97]
• Mike Pompeo, 70th United States Secretary of State (2018–2021), 6th Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (2017–2018), United States Representative from KS-04 (2011–2017)[98]
• Mike Rogers, United States Representative from MI-08 (2001–2015), Michigan State Senator from District 26 (1995–2001) (running for U.S. Senate)[99][100]
• Mitt Romney, U.S. Senator from Utah (2019–present), 70th Governor of Massachusetts (2003–2007), nominee for president in 2012 and candidate in 2008[101][102]
• Marco Rubio, U.S. Senator from Florida (2011–present), 94th Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives (2006–2008) from the 111th district (2000–2008), member of the West Miami City Commission (1998–2000), candidate for president in 2016[103][104]
• Paul Ryan, 54th Speaker of the United States House of Representatives (2015–2019) from WI-01 (1999–2019) and nominee for vice president in 2012[105][106]
• Rick Scott, U.S. Senator from Florida (2019–present), 45th Governor of Florida (2011–2019) (running for re-election)[107]
• Chris Sununu, 82nd Governor of New Hampshire (2017–present), member of the New Hampshire Executive Council (2011–2017)[108][109]
• Donald Trump Jr., businessman, executive vice president of The Trump Organization, son of former president Donald Trump[110][111]
• Ivanka Trump, Senior Advisor to the President of the United States (2017–2021), daughter of former president Donald Trump[112][113]
• Scott Walker, 45th Governor of Wisconsin (2011–2019), 5th Milwaukee County Executive (2002–2010), member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the 14th district (1993–2002), candidate for president in 2016[114][115]

On December 2, perennial candidate John Anthony Castro announced his campaign for the presidency in a tweet and said that he'd sue Donald Trump to have him judicially declared ineligible for public office.[116]

On March 10, 2022, former Montana Secretary of State Corey Stapleton announced he was forming an exploratory committee for the Republican nomination in 2024.[4]

Three days after the 2022 midterm elections, Stapleton confirmed his candidacy for the presidency in 2024.[117][118]

A week after the 2022 midterm elections, at Mar-a-Lago, former president Donald Trump announced that he would run again for the presidency in 2024. If elected, he would become the only president other than Grover Cleveland to serve two non-consecutive terms.[119]

On February 2, former Cranston, Rhode Island mayor Steve Laffey announced he was entering the race in a video statement.[61]

On February 14, former South Carolina governor and former U.N. ambassador Nikki Haley released a video announcing her presidential candidacy.[120]

On February 21, businessman Vivek Ramaswamy announced his presidential candidacy on Tucker Carlson Tonight.[121]

On March 2, businessman Perry Johnson, a Michigan gubernatorial candidate in 2022, who had been deemed ineligible to appear on the primary ballot by the Board of State Canvassers due to alleged fraudulent signatures, announced his intent to run for president of the United States.[48]

On April 1, businessman and pastor Ryan Binkley filed to run with the Federal Election Commission.[122]

On April 2, former Arkansas governor Asa Hutchinson announced his candidacy during an interview with ABC News' Jonathan Karl.[123]

On April 6, Hutchinson filed his run with the Federal Election Commission.[29]

On April 12, the junior U.S. Senator from South Carolina Tim Scott announced an exploratory committee to run for president.[124]

On April 20, former California gubernatorial candidate Larry Elder announced his campaign on Tucker Carlson Tonight.[125]

On April 23, Binkley announced his presidential campaign at the University of Texas at Dallas campus.[126]

On May 19, Tim Scott submitted FEC paperwork to run;[127] he announced his presidential run publicly on May 22.[128]

On May 24, Florida governor and former U.S. representative Ron DeSantis submitted his FEC paperwork to run,[129] and announced that he was running for president during a Twitter Spaces interview with Twitter owner Elon Musk.[130]

On June 5, former Vice President Mike Pence filed paperwork to run for president[131] and North Dakota governor Doug Burgum released a campaign video.[132]

On June 6, Burgum published an announcement opinion-editorial piece announcing his presidential run in the Wall Street Journal,[133] making him the first person born in North Dakota to seek a major party's president nomination.[13][lower-alpha 4] The same day, former New Jersey governor and 2016 presidential candidate Chris Christie publicly announced a presidential campaign in New Hampshire.[135]

On June 7, Pence publicly announced his bid with a campaign video.[136] Also, Burgum delivered a public announcement speech in Fargo.[137]

On June 14, Miami mayor Francis Suarez filed his run with the Federal Election Commission. He delivered a speech the next day at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library to publicly announce his campaign, as four other Republicans in the race had done in the last year.[138][139][140][141][142]

On June 22, former CIA agent and representative of Texas Will Hurd launched a run, after previously expressing interest in launching a presidential bid.[143]

On July 14, pastor E.W. Jackson announced his candidacy.[144]

On August 1, Donald Trump was indicted a third time for trying to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election.

On August 14, Donald Trump was indicted a fourth time for trying to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election in the state of Georgia.

Trump said he would not attend the first debate, and instead planned a show with Tucker Carlson during the same time slot.[145]

On August 21, the slate of candidates that officially qualified for the debate was released: Doug Burgum, Chris Christie, Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley, Asa Hutchinson, Mike Pence, Vivek Ramaswamy, and Tim Scott.[146]

On August 23, the first Republican candidates debate took place in Milwaukee, broadcast by Fox News and moderated by Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum.[147] To be eligible for this debate, a candidate must have polled at least one percent, received donations from 40,000 individuals, and signed a loyalty pledge to back whoever ultimately wins the party presidential nomination.[148] Candidates deemed eligible for the debate were Doug Burgum, Chris Christie, Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley, Asa Hutchinson, Mike Pence, Vivek Ramaswamy and Tim Scott.[149] Trump did not participate in the debate, instead filming an interview with Tucker Carlson that was released minutes before the debate was scheduled to begin.[150]

On August 29, Francis Suarez suspended his presidential campaign, becoming the first candidate to do so.[151]

On September 18, Donald Trump's campaign announced that he would be giving a speech in Detroit, Michigan to striking United Auto Workers union members at the same time as the second debate in California.[152] However, United Auto Workers president Shawn Fain pointed out that Trump's speech was being held at a non-union plant whose workers were not connected to the strike.[153]

On September 20, a senior advisor to the Trump campaign told Bloomberg that Trump plans to skip the third debate in Miami.[154]

On September 26, the slate of candidates that qualified and would attend are: Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley, Tim Scott, Vivek Ramaswamy, Mike Pence, Chris Christie and Doug Burgum. Asa Hutchinson, who appeared for the first debate, did not qualify.[155]

On September 27, the second Republican presidential debate took place at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California.[156] The requirements to attend the debate were to be polling at three percent in at least three reputable national polls, while the donor requirement increases to 50,000 unique donations.[157]

On October 2, the Supreme Court of the United States declined to hear John Anthony Castro's case to disqualify Donald Trump from appearing on the ballot.[158][159]

On October 6, former Cranston, Rhode Island mayor Steve Laffey dropped out of the race.[160]

On October 9, former Representative Will Hurd withdrew from the race.[161]

On October 13, former Montana Secretary of State Corey Stapleton dropped out of the race.[54]

On October 20, businessman Perry Johnson suspended his campaign.[162]

On October 26, former talk radio show host Larry Elder suspended his campaign and endorsed Trump.[46]

On November 8, the third Republican presidential debate will take place in Miami, Florida.[163]

On January 15, the first election of the cycle takes place with the 2024 Iowa Republican presidential caucuses.

GOP rules mandate that changes to all contest dates must occur by September 2023, and there appears to be a trend of contests being scheduled earlier than usual.[186] They also specify that all must occur between March and June 11, 2024 – except for Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, and South Carolina – which are allowed to hold contests in February. Iowa, however, chose to hold its caucus the earliest in over a decade, on a federal holiday – January 15 – as the rules are not legally binding. New Hampshire is expected in late January, a result of state law requiring it to be held at least a week prior to other primaries. Nevada is expected on February 6, with South Carolina on February 24 and Michigan on February 27. The bulk of contests will be concentrated in March, as in previous presidential primaries.[187]

After the 2020 presidential election, the state of Nevada moved to establish a presidential primary for both parties. Previously, party-organized caucuses were used in Nevada to determine delegates in presidential elections.

In May 2023, the Nevada Republican Party sued the state of Nevada in an effort to continue the use of caucuses as the means to determine its delegate allocation. It was stated in a court filing from the Nevada Attorney General's office that the Nevada Republican Party was allowed to choose between a primary or caucus, since the primary is non-binding and because state law does not mandate specific rules governing how political parties are to choose its candidate for president.[188]

On August 14, 2023, the Nevada Republican Party announced it would hold its caucuses on February 8 with the February 6 state primary being non-binding.[189]

The Michigan primary will take place 2 weeks early, on February 27, 2024 – if its legislature adjourns as expected a month early by November 29, 2023. Michigan legislature laws not passed with a supermajority go into effect 90 days after the adjournment of its session.[190]

The Michigan primaries were originally scheduled to be held in March and thus in accordance with Republican rules, but Democrats (who are in control of the Michigan legislature and governorship after the 2022 midterm elections) decided to move up both primaries as part of their own 2024 presidential delegate selection plan. As a result, the earlier date of February 27 violates Republican rules – which state that only Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina can vote earlier than March 1, 2024.

Michigan Republicans are facing a harsh penalty of up to 90% of their delegates being stripped, if they go forward with their earlier primary. Republicans in Michigan have criticized Democrats in Michigan for their unilateral move and are considering boycotting the earlier primary and instead are considering a party-run caucus later in March.[191]

There will be an estimated total of 2,467 delegates to the 2024 Republican National Convention. In contests until March 15, delegates must be awarded on a proportional basis, either by percentage of statewide vote or share of congressional districts won. However, some states have established thresholds between 4 and 20% for proportionality to kick in, under which a candidate receives no delegates. A vast majority, 41 contests totaling 1,920 delegates, operate this way using methods that are hybrid between proportionality and majority-take-all. New York for example has a 20% threshold for proportionality but if a candidate wins a majority, they take all delegates. North Dakota, Wyoming, American Samoa, Guam, Virgin Islands, and 51 of Pennsylvania's 67 delegates are unpledged (free to vote for anyone at the convention), totaling 119. Florida, New Jersey, Ohio, Colorado, Arizona, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Montana's delegates are strictly awarded on a plurality-take-all basis, totaling 428. It will be possible for a candidate to take all 928 delegates of 19 contests by simply winning a threshold of votes. By Super Tuesday, over 40% of delegates will have been awarded, and most by March 19. GOP rules mandate changes to delegate allocation methods happen by September 30. The primaries will conclude with a final vote on the nominee by a majority of delegates at the newly elected Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, which will be held July 15–18.[192][193]

As of August 2023, at least 20 states have announced their filing deadlines for presidential candidates seeking the nomination of their party in order to appear on the state's ballots. Between September 1 and October 15, 2023, Nevada has the nation's first filing window and deadline for its February 8, 2024, presidential caucus. The filing window for the New Hampshire primary will be between October 11–27. 13 additional states, including populous California and Texas, have filing deadlines by December 22, 2023.[194]