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Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., appeared to leave the door open for a presidential run in 2028 while giving a stump speech on Tuesday for Troy Jackson, the Democratic nominee for Senate in Maine.
Kelly was in the middle of an argument about how the economy no longer works for young Americans when an audience member interrupted him with a suggestion about his political future.
“I’m the son of two cops who went to public schools and went on to become a Navy pilot and then an astronaut and now a US senator. I was fortunate,” he said.
Just as Kelly mentioned becoming a senator, someone in the crowd shouted “president,” prompting a two-word response from the Arizona Democrat.
Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., speaks during a meet-and-greet event held by Kelly and Democratic Senate candidate Troy Jackson ahead of the midterm elections in Freeport, Maine, on Oct. 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, is routinely featured in 2028 Democratic presidential primary surveys and often polls below more established contenders like former Vice President Kamala Harris and California Gov. Gavin Newsom.
Still, Kelly has begun gaining support as his national profile rises. He drew widespread attention in Nov. 2025 after appearing in a video alongside other Democratic lawmakers telling U.S. service members that it is their duty to disobey illegal orders, including those issued by the executive branch.
The video prompted a criminal investigation into 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 is eying a run for the White House. He told the outlet that he will decide whether he is running 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 permitted to simultaneously seek election to one additional federal office, meaning Kelly could run for both president and Senate in 2028.
Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., greets a supporter at a campaign event for Senate candidate Troy Jackson in Freeport, Maine on Oct. 27, 2026. (Joseph Prezioso / AFP via Getty Images)
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The provision in Arizona law could make a presidential bid less of a political gamble for Kelly, allowing him to pursue the highest office in the land 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 the Senate, though he wouldn’t be able to occupy both offices if he won both races.