On Meet the Press, Senator John Kennedy told host Kristen Welker he might run for president in 2028. The 74-year-old Louisiana lawmaker said he would only consider it if he felt he could no longer be effective in the Senate. He joked about an old song while explaining his hesitation.
He asked, “Why not me on a rainy day? Why not me to mug your blues away?” Kennedy made it clear he has not made a final decision yet. He said he would only run if a specific group of people entered the race. “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,” he said.
When pressed on why voters should pick him over Vice President JD Vance, Kennedy refused to speculate. He noted that he assumes Vance will run for the top spot. “Oh, I’m not going to talk about another potential candidate,” Kennedy said. “I’m just not there yet.” He emphasized that his current plan is to run for reelection to his Senate seat.
While the 2028 talk grabbed headlines, Kennedy is currently busy with the upcoming midterms. He traveled to Ohio to support Jon Husted, who is facing a tough race against former Democrat Sherrod Brown. He also went to New Hampshire to campaign with John Sununu, who wants to take back his old Senate seat. These trips are part of a nationwide tour to boost Republican candidates.
He plans to visit New Hampshire again, along with Texas and Michigan. These states are key priorities for the party in the next election. Kennedy insisted that his travel schedule is his own choice. “I’m going to go wherever my political people tell me to go,” he said. “I have my own political operation. I don’t take orders from my leadership. I do it my way.”
Other Republicans are also eyeing the future. According to the New York Post, Senator Ted Cruz fired back at Vice President Vance after Vance suggested Cruz was already running. According to Vance’s statement to NBC News, it is clearly evident that Ted Cruz is currently campaigning for the presidency. Cruz denied this, telling Politico that he is focused on winning the next 30 days.
Cruz said, “In my experience, people engage in political bomb-throwing when they’re feeling insecure,” referring to Vance’s comments. He further remarked that Cruz is free to say whatever he wishes. Cruz noted he spent a full day campaigning with Vance when the vice president ran for Senate in Ohio. He said he was glad to help Vance win that race.
The political landscape is shifting as the party looks past the current term. Traditionalists want a return to free markets, while others want to stay populist. Kennedy’s comments about “goobers” show he is watching the field closely. He said he would be “certainly be part of the discussion” if the race opens up. For now, he is just watching and waiting to see who steps forward.
