Could Mark Kelly Be the Democrats’ Best Hope in 2028?
With the 2026 midterm elections only months away, political pundits are already speculating about who could become the Democratic nominee for president in 2028.
To be honest, I can’t think of any Democrat I’m excited about seeing run for president, regard less of race or gender. I’ve become deeply disenchanted with the Democratic Party. Still, for now, they’re the only viable alternative to the Republican Party.
Among the names already being mentioned are California Governor Gavin Newsom, former Vice President Kamala Harris, former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Sen. Cory Booker, and Sen. Raphael Warnock.
I’ll repeat something I’ve said before: I don’t believe America has yet shown that it is ready to elect a woman as commander in chief. Many people point to Donald Trump’s victo ries over Hillary Clinton in 2016 and Kamala Harris in 2024 as evidence of that view, though others argue those elections were shaped by many different political and economic factors. There is, however, one potential Democratic candidate who has caught my attention: Arizona Senator Mark Kelly.
Kelly recently drew the ire of President Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth after publicly stating that members of the military are not obligated to obey unlawful orders. His willingness to challenge the administration on that issue struck me as a politically risky stand that demonstrated conviction. Beyond that, Kelly has one of the most remarkable resumes in American politics.
Before entering public office, he served as a U.S. Navy captain and flew 39 combat missions during Operation Desert Storm. He later became a NASA astronaut, logging more than 5,000 flight hours and participating in four Space Shuttle missions. Kelly eventually commanded the final flight of Space Shuttle Endeavour and spent more than 50 days in space. In 2020, he was elected to represent Arizona in the United States Senate, becoming one of the few astronauts ever to serve in that body.
Many Americans also remember his wife, former Arizona Congresswoman Gabby Giffords, who survived an assassination attempt after being shot in the head during the 2011 Tucson mass shooting. Following her recovery, the couple became nationally recognized advocates for reducing gun violence.
Whether you agree with Mark Kelly’s politics or not, his life story reflects military service, scientific achievement, public service, and personal resilience. Those are qualities that many voters admire.
It’s still very early, and a great deal can change before Democrats choose their nominee. New candidates will almost certainly enter the race, and today’s front runners are not guaranteed to remain so. But based on what I’ve seen so far, Mark Kelly appears to have the experience, credentials, and tempera ment to emerge as one of the Democratic Party’s strongest contenders— and perhaps the kind of leader who could help restore stability after one of the most politi cally turbulent periods in modern American history.