Previous The following people were the focus of presidential speculation in multiple media reports during the 2016 election cycle but did not enter the race. File:Kelly Ayotte, Official Portrait, 112th Congress 2 (cropped).jpg|
Kelly AyotteU.S. Senator from New Hampshire 2011–2017 File:Michelebachmann.jpg|
Michele BachmannU.S. Representative from Minnesota 2007–15, presidential candidate in
2012 File:Jan Brewer by Gage Skidmore 3.jpg|
Jan BrewerGovernor of Arizona 2009–15Endorsed
Donald Trump File:Sbrownofficial.jpg|
Scott BrownU.S. Senator from Massachusetts 2010–13Endorsed
Donald Trump File:Sam Brownback official portrait 3.jpg|
Sam BrownbackGovernor of Kansas 2011–2018, presidential candidate in 2008Endorsed
Marco Rubio File:Herman Cain by Gage Skidmore 4.jpg|
Herman CainPresident of the
National Restaurant Association 1996–99; presidential candidate in
2012 File:Ken Cuccinelli by Gage Skidmore.jpg|
Ken CuccinelliAttorney General of Virginia 2010–14; nominee for
Governor of Virginia in
2013Endorsed
Ted Cruz File:Jim DeMint.jpg|
Jim DeMintU.S. Senator from South Carolina 2005–13 File:Mary Fallin official 110th Congress photo.jpg|
Mary FallinGovernor of Oklahoma 2011–2019 File:Official Photo of SC Governor Nikki Haley (cropped).jpg|
Nikki HaleyGovernor of South Carolina 2011–2017Endorsed
Marco Rubio, then
Ted Cruz File:Steve King official photo.jpg|
Steve KingU.S. Representative from Iowa 2003–2021 Endorsed
Ted Cruz File:Governor NewMexico.jpg|
Susana MartinezGovernor of New Mexico 2011–2019;Endorsed
Marco Rubio File:Bob McDonnell by Gage Skidmore.jpg|
Bob McDonnellGovernor of Virginia 2010–14 File:Cathy McMorris Rodgers, Official Portrait, 112th Congress.jpg|
Cathy McMorris RodgersU.S. Representative from Washington 2005–2025 File:Ted Nugent (16782548488) (cropped).jpg|
Ted Nugentmusician and civil liberties activist from MichiganEndorsed
Donald Trump File:Sarah Palin by Gage Skidmore 2 (cropped 3x4).jpg|
Sarah PalinGovernor of Alaska 2006–09;
2008 vice-presidential nomineeEndorsed
Donald Trump File:Mike-Rogers-Head-Shot-2.jpg|
Mike RogersU.S. Representative from Michigan 2001–15 File:Brian Sandoval 2010.jpg|
Brian SandovalGovernor of Nevada 2011–2019Endorsed
John Kasich File:Rick Scott (cropped).jpg|
Rick ScottGovernor of Florida 2011–2019Endorsed
Donald Trump File:Allen West, Official Portrait, 112th Congress.jpg|
Allen WestU.S. Representative from Florida 2011–13
Declined Individuals listed in this section were the focus of media speculation as being possible 2016 presidential candidates but publicly, and unequivocally, ruled out presidential bids in 2016. File:Marsha blackburn congress.jpg|
Marsha BlackburnU.S. Representative from Tennessee 2003–2019 File:Ambassador John Bolton at the Southern Republican Leadership Conference (cropped).jpg|
John BoltonU.S. Ambassador to the United Nations 2005–06 File:Bob Corker official Senate photo.jpg|
Bob CorkerU.S. Senator from Tennessee 2007–2019 File:Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels.jpg|
Mitch DanielsGovernor of Indiana 2005–13 File:Robert ehrlich speaking at healthierUS summit cropped.jpg|
Bob EhrlichGovernor of Maryland 2003–07 File:Newt Gingrich by Gage Skidmore 6.jpg|
Newt GingrichSpeaker of the House of Representatives 1995–99; presidential candidate in
2012 File:Ambassador Jon Huntsman.jpg|
Jon Huntsman Jr.United States Ambassador to China 2009–11;
Governor of Utah 2005–09; presidential candidate in
2012 File:Congressman Darrell Issa.jpg|
Darrell IssaU.S. Representative from California since 2021 and from 2001 to 2019 File:Peter T. King, official portrait, 112th Congress.jpg|
Peter KingU.S. Representative from New York 1993-2021 File:John McCain official portrait 2009.jpg|
John McCainU.S. Senator from Arizona 1987–2018; presidential candidate
in 2000; presidential nominee
in 2008Endorsed
Lindsey Graham File:Ron Paul, official Congressional photo portrait, 2007.jpg|
Ron PaulU.S. Representative from Texas 1976–77, 1979–85 and 1997–2013, presidential candidate
in 1988,
in 2008, and
in 2012Endorsed
Rand Paul File:Tim Pawlenty official photo.jpg|
Tim PawlentyGovernor of Minnesota 2003–11, presidential candidate
in 2012Endorsed
Marco Rubio File:Mike Pence February 2015 cropped color corrected 2 by 3.jpg|
Mike PenceGovernor of Indiana 2013–2017 vice presidential nominee
for Donald Trump in 2016 File:Rob Portman, official portrait, 112th Congress.jpg|
Rob PortmanU.S. Senator from Ohio 2011-2023Endorsed
John Kasich File:Condoleezza Rice cropped.jpg|
Condoleezza RiceUnited States Secretary of State 2005–09 File:Buddy Roemer by Gage Skidmore 2.jpg|
Buddy RoemerGovernor of Louisiana 1988–92; presidential candidate in
2012 File:Mitt Romney by Gage Skidmore 7.jpg|
Mitt RomneyGovernor of Massachusetts 2003–07; presidential candidate in
2008; presidential nominee in
2012 File:Paul Ryan--113th Congress--.png|
Paul RyanU.S. Representative from Wisconsin 1999–2019,
Speaker of the United States House of Representatives 2015–19, vice presidential nominee in
2012 File:Scarborough Joe -MBFI 2013 fRF 01.jpg|
Joe Scarboroughcable news and talk radio host, U.S. Representative from Florida 1995–2001Endorsed
Jeb Bush File:Rick Snyder in 2013.jpg|
Rick SnyderGovernor of Michigan 2011–2019 File:John Thune, official portrait, 111th Congress.jpg|
John ThuneU.S. Senator from South Dakota since 2005 == See also ==