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Sen. Mark Kelly, Democrat of Arizona, appeared to leave the door open for a 2028 presidential bid while delivering a stump speech Tuesday for Troy Jackson, the Democratic Senate candidate in Maine.
Kelly was in the middle of an argument about whether the economy was no longer working for young Americans when a spectator interrupted him with a suggestion about his political future.
“I’m the son of two police officers who attended public schools and became a Navy pilot, then an astronaut and now a U.S. senator. I was lucky,” he said.
Just as Kelly was talking about becoming a senator, someone in the crowd shouted “president,” prompting a two-word response from the Arizona Democrat.
Senator Mark Kelly, Democrat of Arizona, speaks during a meeting hosted by Kelly and Democratic Senate candidate Troy Jackson ahead of the midterm elections in Freeport, Maine, October 27, 2026. (Reuters/Taylor Coester)
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“We’ll see,” said Kelly, whose short response drew cheers from the crowd.
Kelly, who is up for re-election in 2028, regularly features in polls for the 2028 Democratic presidential primaries and often polls more established candidates like former Vice President Kamala Harris and California Governor Gavin Newsom.
Still, Kelly has begun to gain support as his national profile increases. He gained attention in November 2025 after appearing in a video alongside other Democratic lawmakers telling the U.S. military that it is their duty to disobey illegal orders, including those issued by the executive branch.
The video prompted a criminal investigation against Kelly and the five other Democratic lawmakers, although a federal grand jury declined to indict them in February.
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Axios reported last week that Kelly was considering a run for the White House. He told the outlet he will decide whether to run for president or another term in the Senate after the midterms.
However, Kelly would not necessarily have to choose between the two. Under Arizona law, presidential and vice presidential candidates are allowed to run for election to one additional federal office simultaneously, meaning Kelly could run for both president and Senate in 2028.
Sen. Mark Kelly, Democrat of Arizona, greets a supporter during a campaign event for Senate candidate Troy Jackson in Freeport, Maine, October 27, 2026. (Joseph Prezioso/AFP via Getty Images)
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This provision of Arizona law could make running for president a less risky political gamble for Kelly, allowing him to ascend to the nation’s highest office without necessarily jeopardizing his Senate career.
If Kelly secures the Democratic presidential nomination in 2028, he could appear on Arizona ballots as a candidate for both president and Senate, although he would not be able to hold both offices if he wins both races.
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