Mark Kelly Weighs 2028 Presidential Bid Amid Senate Re-Election

Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona said he will determine his 2028 presidential ambitions after the midterm elections, a decision that could allow him to pursue the White House while retaining a path back to the Senate.

Kelly made the comment to reporters after Axios reported last week that he is considering a run for the presidency. He stated he would choose between seeking the Democratic nomination for president or another term in the U.S. Senate once the midterms concluded. This timing places his decision after the 2026 election cycle.

The Arizona Democrat appeared to signal openness to a presidential bid on Tuesday during a campaign stop in Maine. He was speaking in support of Troy Jackson, the Democratic nominee for Senate in Maine. Kelly described his background as the son of two police officers who attended public school, became a Navy pilot, and served as an astronaut before entering the Senate.

An audience member interrupted Kelly by shouting the word "president" as he mentioned his current role. Kelly replied with the two-word phrase "We'll see," a response that drew cheers from the crowd. The exchange occurred during a segment where Kelly argued that the economy no longer works for young Americans.

Kelly faces re-election in his own district in 2028. He currently appears in Democratic primary surveys but typically trails established figures such as former Vice President Kamala Harris and California Gov. Gavin Newsom. His national profile has risen since November 2025, when he appeared in a video with five other Democratic lawmakers telling service members they have a duty to disobey illegal executive orders.

That video led to a criminal investigation into the six lawmakers. A federal grand jury declined to indict the group in February. The legal scrutiny has not stopped his fundraising or event schedule, as he remains a frequent presence on the 2028 primary watch list.

Arizona law provides a specific mechanism for Kelly to pursue both offices simultaneously. State statute permits presidential and vice presidential candidates to also seek one additional federal office. This provision allows Kelly to appear on Arizona ballots for both the presidency and his Senate seat in 2028 without forfeiting his Senate bid if he loses the presidential nomination.