Louisiana Sen. John Kennedy said Sunday that he is considering seeking the Republican presidential nomination in 2028, although he currently plans to run for another Senate term and said the eventual GOP field could influence his decision.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom.
Louisiana Republican Sen. John Kennedy has publicly opened the door to a 2028 presidential campaign, saying he would consider seeking the White House if he concludes he could be more effective as president than by remaining in the Senate.
Kennedy acknowledged his interest Sunday during an appearance on NBC News’ “Meet the Press,” where moderator Kristen Welker asked him directly whether he was thinking about running for president.
“Yeah,” Kennedy replied.
The 74-year-old senator immediately qualified his answer, saying his current intention is to seek another term in the Senate in 2028 but that circumstances could change over the next two years.
“My plans right now are to run for re-election, but as I’ve said before, if I don’t think I can be effective in the Senate anymore, I would consider it,” Kennedy said.
Kennedy suggested that the identity and quality of other Republican candidates could also factor heavily into his decision, joking in his trademark style that an unsatisfactory field could persuade him to enter the race himself.
“On my side of the aisle, if a bunch of goobers run, and I think they’re goobers and one of the goobers might win, and I think I could do a better job, I would consider running,” Kennedy said.
“But right now, I’m running for re-election.”
The program also posted video of Kennedy discussing the possibility, with the full exchange subsequently shared through the show’s official account.
Kennedy’s remarks represent one of his clearest public acknowledgments that he could join what remains an unsettled Republican presidential field after Trump leaves office.
Asked specifically about Vice President JD Vance, who has been widely discussed as a possible 2028 candidate, Kennedy declined to evaluate how he might fare against him.
“I’m not going to talk about another potential candidate,” Kennedy said. “I’m just not there yet.”
Kennedy instead said he believes competition would be healthy for Republicans as well as Democrats in selecting their respective nominees.
He said “it’ll be good for both parties to have a full field.”
The Louisiana senator’s comments come as several prominent Republicans are positioning themselves for possible roles in the party’s post-Trump future, although the 2028 campaign remains more than two years away and potential candidates have generally stopped short of formal announcements.
President Donald Trump has previously mentioned both Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio when discussing Republicans who could eventually succeed him.
Rubio said in September that he has “no plans at this time” to seek the presidency, leaving open what his political plans could ultimately look like as the next election cycle approaches.
Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz is another potential candidate frequently mentioned in discussions about 2028. Cruz sought the Republican nomination in 2016, winning the Iowa caucuses and several other contests before Trump ultimately secured the nomination.
Cruz has repeatedly left open the possibility of running for president again and has recently become more active in conversations surrounding the future direction of the Republican Party.
Kennedy has also begun attracting attention beyond Louisiana. In recent weeks, he has appeared in Iowa, the traditional opening state in the Republican presidential nominating process, and has traveled to South Carolina, another early primary state. Those appearances have contributed to speculation about his national ambitions, although Kennedy continues to emphasize that his official plan remains reelection to the Senate.
Kennedy was elected to the Senate in 2016 after previously serving as Louisiana state treasurer. He won reelection in 2022 and will next face voters in 2028, the same year as the presidential election.
His national profile has grown substantially during his Senate tenure through frequent television appearances, high-profile committee questioning and a speaking style that relies heavily on humor, analogies and colorful descriptions of political opponents and government policy.
That persona was evident again Sunday as Kennedy refused to rule out a presidential bid while making clear that he does not currently consider himself a declared candidate.
The decision, he indicated, could ultimately come down to whether he believes the Senate remains the best place for him to serve and whether he considers the eventual Republican presidential field capable of producing the party’s next nominee.
For now, Kennedy says his name will remain on the list of Republicans who could consider 2028 — even as his immediate campaign plans remain centered on winning another six-year Senate term.
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