Cities, resources
US Cities Where the Next US Presidential Candidates Hail From
28 Jan 2026
The next American presidential elections are scheduled for November 2028. With analysts already looking to see who the winner might be, it’s a good moment to consider where the potential candidates come from and whether a hometown advantage can be built on this as part of their political identity.
JD Vance - Middletown, Ohio
The current Vice President is considered one of the Republican frontrunners for the 2028 elections, with President Donald Trump ineligible for a third term. Vance was born in Ohio, but his 2016 memoir titled Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis explains how his family had moved there from Kentucky and how he grew up immersed in the Appalachian American culture.
The book covers the country’s socioeconomic problems, which led to him being named the voice of the Rust Belt in some media articles. He’s been involved in social initiatives such as Our Ohio Renewal and the vertical indoor farming company AppHarvest in Kentucky, although both projects attracted a degree of controversy.
Gavin Newsom - San Francisco, California
The current governor of California is regarded as one of the frontrunners for the Democratic candidacy. After serving as the Mayor of San Francisco, his profile is closely linked to West Coast liberalism. Newsom confirmed that he plans to wait until the 2026 midterm elections are completed before deciding whether to run for president in 2028. As a fourth-generation San Franciscan, his deep roots in the city are one of the key aspects of his political profile.
If you think you can predict what happens in 2028, you’ll want to know which states allow political betting. This is part of the predictions market, where players trade event contracts rather than place bets. While the process might seem similar to betting, this difference has ensured greater legal clarity, meaning that prediction market platforms are available even in states where betting isn’t yet legal. For example, Kalshi can be accessed in more than 40 states.
Marco Rubio - Miami, Florida
The Secretary of State was born in Miami to Cuban parents who had immigrated to the US in the 1950s. This background helps to explain his appeal among Hispanic voters. He became the first Cuban American to take on the role of speaker of the Florida House of Representatives, creating the book titled 100 Innovative Ideas For Florida's Future, based on the ideas given to him by citizens.
Moving from Secretary to State to President is something that’s almost unheard of in recent times, while Rubio has pointed out that he will step away from the candidacy if JD Vance enters the Republican primary. However, he has launched presidential bids in the past, so it can’t be ruled out.
The question of how important the hometown advantage is in American presidential elections will continue to be an important talking point. As we’ve seen, some of the most likely candidates for 2028 have profiles that are closely linked to where they were born, adding an extra degree of local flavor to any political discussion.
