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Midterms 2026 · Report · File No. 261111-049

Nikki Haley says she won't run for president in 2028, widening GOP field

The former South Carolina governor ruled out a 2028 bid a little over a week after Republican midterm losses. Her exit leaves the Republican succession fight more open.

By the Campaign Desk · · 2 min read

Every quote in this story (2) was matched word for word against its source. How we work

My clippings
Nikki Haley
Nikki Haley. Photo: United States Department of State, Public domain

Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, a Republican, said Wednesday that she will not run for president in 2028. The Washington Examiner reported that she made the comments to CNBC, and that she has been more visible in the media since the GOP lost the midterm elections 1.

Political Wire, citing a Bloomberg report, said she made the statement while criticizing the Trump administration over the midterm losses. Those losses gave Democrats decisive congressional majorities, according to that report 2.

On tapeNikki Haley · Nov 11
Full Nikki Haley interview on CNBC about the midterm elections and her 2028 presidential plans.Video: Nikki Haley on YouTube, “(FULL) Nikki Haley on CNBC: Midterm Elections & 2028 Presidential Plans”. It plays from YouTube when you press play.

What Haley said

Nikki Haley
I am not running in 2028, but I will continue to talk about the things that I care about.
Nikki Haley, former governor of South Carolina, R1

Haley also said, "I will continue to push good policy. I will continue to support good candidates, and we want a strong America" 1. In the remarks Political Wire summarized, she said she hopes "the Republican Party comes out of this better and stronger than they were before" 2.

This is not the first time she has said no. On April 12, she was asked on CNN's State of the Union whether she would join the 2028 Republican primary field, and she said she would not 3.

From Channel GOPAds called Vivek a murderer, used the President's familyJD Vance · 178 plays · captioned, with the source named

In that April interview, she would not say whether Vice President JD Vance should be the party's nominee. She said, "I think it's too soon to tell," and added, "I think that primaries are healthy" 3.

A Republican field in flux

The Associated Press (AP) reported on Nov. 4 that Vance entered Election Day as the GOP's leading 2028 prospect but was left far more vulnerable 4. Vance wrote on X that the reason the party lost is the war, apparently referring to the Iran war 4.

President Trump did not dispute Vance's view, AP reported, but he defended the war. He also did not boost Vance's prospects, telling reporters, "Maybe he won't run" 4.

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, a Republican, wrote on X that the size of the defeat "makes the race for the GOP presidential nomination wide open" 4. AP also named Texas Sen. Ted Cruz as a Republican weighing a run 4.

What the Democrats are saying

Democrats are already looking ahead. Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey told AP the election result "has got to be the start of a movement" 4.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, said, "People want fundamental change, real reform." He did not say whether he will run in 2028 4.

What happens next

Haley's decision removes one of the best-known Republican critics of Trump from the 2028 race. In the 2024 cycle she ran for the Republican nomination and suspended her campaign after Super Tuesday 3.

A late-March Emerson College poll had Haley at 6 percent among New Hampshire Republicans. Vance was at nearly 43 percent in that poll 3.

That matters because Republicans now face a succession question with no clear answer. The party's leading prospect is being publicly second-guessed by the president, and one prominent name has taken herself out. Haley says she will keep backing candidates and policies, so she may still shape the race without running in it 1.

The Record

  1. Haley tells CNN's Dana Bash she will not run when asked about a 2028 presidential run 3.
  2. AP reports Vance was left far more vulnerable by the midterm results, and Trump says "Maybe he won't run" 4.
  3. Haley tells CNBC she is not running in 2028, the Washington Examiner reports 1.
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Sources

  1. Washington Examiner, “Nikki Haley rules out 2028 White House bid” (2026-11-11). washingtonexaminer.com/news/campaigns/presidential/4800243/n
  2. Political Wire, “Nikki Haley Says She Won't Run for President” (2026-11-11). politicalwire.com/2026/11/11/nikki-haley-says-she-wont-run-f
  3. The Post and Courier, “SC's Nikki Haley rules out 2028 GOP presidential run” (2026-04-13). postandcourier.com/politics/nikki-haley-sc-2028-presidential
  4. AP via KSAT, “The 2028 election season begins as both parties navigate midterm fallout” (2026-11-04). ksat.com/news/politics/2026/11/04/the-2028-election-season-b

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