<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>EXCLUSIVE —</strong> Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) has confirmed that he will not run for president in 2028, stating to the <em>Washington Examiner</em> that he has no interest in pursuing the Republican nomination.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“No, I have no intention of doing so, period,” Hawley said in a Tuesday interview.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">He did not provide further comments or discuss potential candidates for the nomination. Vice President JD Vance is considered a leading candidate should he choose to run, but he may face competition from other Republicans, including Senators Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Rand Paul (R-KY), who have indicated interest in the next election cycle, as President Donald Trump will be term-limited.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“I have no insight to offer you on 2028, one way or another,” Hawley stated at the Capitol. “I don’t know who will run or what will happen. We need to get through these elections first.”</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Hawley has distanced himself from the Trump administration since the beginning of the new Congress, raising questions about his future political ambitions.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">He has been a supporter of Trump but has had disagreements, including over his vote on Venezuela war powers and a stock trading bill he co-sponsored.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Hawley has also expressed concerns regarding the Food and Drug Administration’s approval of mifepristone, a medication used for abortions. He is known for his strong anti-abortion stance, and some activists hope for a candidate with similar views in the 2028 race.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">In the interview, Hawley emphasized the importance of the religious Right in the Republican Party, cautioning potential candidates not to overlook this demographic.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“I would just remind everybody that they are the backbone of this party,” he said. “You cannot win anything without them. You cannot win a primary without them. You cannot win a general election without them. And I would caution anybody who thinks that you can do without them in our voting coalition — you will have a voting coalition of like 10% without religious conservatives, without evangelical Protestants, without conservative Catholics, without conservative Orthodox Jews. So, I’d be real careful about trying to marginalize that coalition.”</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Cruz has actively sought support from evangelicals and has maintained a strong pro-Israel stance, while Vance and others in the administration have been more critical of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Cruz, who ran against Trump for the GOP nomination in 2016, has acknowledged his ongoing presidential aspirations and has taken steps to differentiate himself from the current administration.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Paul, who also challenged Trump in 2016, stated earlier this year that he is undecided about another presidential run and will make a decision after the midterm elections.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The early discussions about potential candidates reflect the Republican Party's considerations for the future in a post-Trump political landscape, especially as Trump's approval ratings are reportedly low.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) has also sparked speculation about a presidential run after announcing a nationwide tour focused on economic issues.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Scott told the <em>Washington Examiner</em> on Tuesday that he is not considering a presidential campaign.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Outside of Congress, figures such as Secretary of State Marco Rubio and War Secretary Pete Hegseth are viewed as potential candidates for the 2028 election.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>Ramsey Touchberry contributed to this report.</em></p>