Democratic Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly says he has set a timeline for deciding whether to seek the presidency in 2028, but he is not ready to reveal when he will make the call.
Kelly said, “I am thinking about it,” when asked about a White House bid at Crooked Con in Washington over the weekend, KTAR News reported. He said he has discussed the possibility with his family and added, “We’ve had conversations; we’re going to continue to have them.”
The remarks sharpen months of speculation. Kelly told KTAR in August that he and his wife, former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, were discussing a campaign and that her support would be essential. During a Maine campaign appearance before the midterms, he said he would decide “at the appropriate time” after the election.
Kelly has held preliminary conversations with potential presidential campaign staff, The Associated Press reported. His biography gives him a distinctive national profile: the former Navy combat pilot and retired National Aeronautics and Space Administration astronaut has represented Arizona in the Senate since 2020 and won a full six-year term in 2022.
A presidential campaign would coincide with Kelly’s next Senate election, adding another major strategic decision. He has not said how he would approach the two contests or when he intends to announce his plans.
The possible Democratic field is already crowded. Fellow Arizona Sen. Ruben Gallego has said he is weighing a bid, while other nationally discussed prospects include former Vice President Kamala Harris, California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, Georgia Sen. Jon Ossoff, and Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear.
Kelly has not formed a presidential campaign or announced an exploratory committee. For now, his latest comments place him among the Democrats openly considering a 2028 run, with the timing of his decision still private.
