Mark Edward Kelly, a Democratic senator from Arizona, has told CNN that he is seriously considering running for President of the United States in 2028.
In an interview on Wednesday, Kelly mentioned, “I still believe that we need to elect the right person, but it is not yet certain when the right time will be.”
Kelly, a former Navy pilot and NASA astronaut, entered the political stage after his wife, former Democratic congresswoman Gabby Giffords, was shot in 2011.
Kelly was previously considered as a running mate for former Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 election. As the midterm elections and the 2028 Democratic primaries approach, he continues to campaign across the country.
Recently, Kelly has attracted attention for participating in a video urging active-duty military personnel to refuse illegal orders.
Following the release of the video, there was sharp criticism from Trump on social media, and the Pentagon announced an investigation into Kelly’s involvement in the video.
Subsequently, Kelly filed a lawsuit, claiming that the actions taken involved restrictions on legislators’ speech, and sought court intervention to prevent any related measures.
During the interview, Kelly also mentioned that this incident has put his family under security threats, and the police have increased patrols around their residence. He stated that he will continue to handle the controversy through legal means.
According to Axios, Kelly’s campaign team stated that his current focus remains on his responsibilities as a senator and policy issues. Campaign spokesperson Jacob Peters said, “For Mark, the most important thing right now is to protect the rights and freedoms of all Americans.”
The next presidential election in the United States is scheduled for November 7, 2028. Currently, the Democratic Party does not have a clear successor, and Kelly’s national visibility and recent developments have made him one of the potential candidates being discussed.