Over the last 250 years, more than 200 women have sought the U.S. presidency, though none have won the office. Following the major-party nominations of Hillary Clinton in 2016 and Kamala Harris in 2024, observers are noting that several women are already being mentioned as potential candidates for the 2028 election.
Public opinion data suggests a shift in how voters perceive leadership traits. A study published in Political Behavior found that traits associated with women politicians are viewed more positively than they were 10 years ago, while respect for stereotypical male politicians has declined over the same period. Researchers noted this shift corresponds with the era of former President Donald Trump.
Despite these shifts, an American University poll released in October 2025 found that voters remain wary of electing a female president. The poll indicated that while women are widely trusted to address family-related issues, male candidates are more trusted to handle national security, crime, and foreign adversaries. The data also showed that female candidates face a "double bind," where they are expected to be both tough and likable, a standard the report noted is not typically applied to men.
The scale of this issue is reflected in historical data, with only two women in 250 years reaching a major-party nomination out of more than 200 who attempted to run. While the exact number of voters influenced by these biases in 2028 is not reported, the American University study identifies these "narrow expectations" as a persistent factor in national polling. A person following the 2028 election would likely notice these dynamics in how candidates are covered in the media and how they choose to emphasize specific traits, such as empathy or strength, during their campaigns.
The shift in trait association reported by the journal Political Behavior suggests that the traditional definitions of political strength are evolving. This could set a precedent for future policy discussions and campaign strategies, potentially favoring candidates who exhibit human qualities traditionally labeled as feminine, such as inclusivity and fresh perspectives. What happens next depends on the emergence of the next group of candidates for 2028 and how they navigate these documented voter biases as the election cycle begins.