Fewer than half of Americans say they are anticipating the next presidential election, according to a new CNN survey that underscores the public’s weariness after a turbulent political cycle. The poll, conducted October 15–18 with 1,701 respondents, carries a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 2.9 percentage points.
Just 40 percent of those surveyed said they are “looking forward to” the 2028 contest, while 27 percent said they are “dreading” it. The remaining 33 percent described themselves as neither looking forward to nor dreading the race for the White House.
That lukewarm sentiment extends to the potential field: when asked whether there is a “specific person” they would like to see run for president in 2028, only 35 percent said yes. Nearly two-thirds—64 percent—said no.
The survey arrives as the 2026 midterm elections wind down. Democrats captured both the House and Senate, capitalizing on a difficult environment for Republicans. The GOP’s challenges included an unpopular war with Iran, declining approval ratings for President Trump, and persistent voter anxiety over the cost of living. Those dynamics have already triggered internal recriminations, with some Republicans blaming the Iran war for the GOP’s election losses.
Meanwhile, the party is beginning to look ahead to a post-Trump era. The 2028 election will be the first in more than a decade without Trump on the ballot, as the 22nd Amendment prohibits a president from serving more than two terms. The jockeying for position has already started, with a crowded field of potential GOP presidential contenders beginning to emerge.
The last presidential election was marked by extraordinary upheaval. It featured assassination attempts against Trump, a widely criticized debate performance by former President Biden that raised questions about his fitness for office, and former Vice President Kamala Harris taking over the Democratic ticket only months before Election Day.
Against that backdrop, the public’s low enthusiasm for 2028 may reflect a broader fatigue with the political system. Even as some Republicans try to move past the midterm shellacking—and as Trump revives election fraud claims—voters appear unexcited about the next national contest.
The CNN poll offers a snapshot of a electorate that is neither energized nor terrified by the approaching presidential cycle, but rather indifferent or worn down. With more than two years until the first primaries, that mood could shift, but for now, the numbers suggest a challenging environment for any candidate seeking to generate excitement.
