Politics
DeSantis and Ossoff Emerge as Early 2028 Presidential Contenders After Midterms
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Georgia Sen. Jon Ossoff are drawing national attention as possible 2028 presidential candidates, with DeSantis hinting at a run and Ossoff winning a liberal straw poll, though both face significant hurdles.
Speculation about the 2028 presidential race is intensifying following last week's midterm elections, with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Georgia Sen. Jon Ossoff emerging as early focal points in their respective parties.
DeSantis has been making the rounds on national talk shows in recent weeks, including an interview with Stephen A. Smith. When pressed in August about whether he would seek the presidency, DeSantis offered a coy response: "That's for me to know and you to find out."
The governor has also sought to distance himself from Washington Republicans, arguing that decisions such as the war with Iran contributed to last week's Democratic gains. Chris Hand, a government law attorney and political contributor, suggested DeSantis may be positioning himself for a primary fight outside the current White House orbit.
"My guess would be â and the governor would have to confirm this â I suspect he thinks there would be a non-White House lane in the 2028 primary," Hand said.
Ossoff, meanwhile, won a straw poll at a gathering of liberal activists over the weekend, receiving more than twice as many votes as the second-place finisher, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Unlike DeSantis, Ossoff has not given interviews to major national outlets since the midterms. He has previously said he was not interested in running for president, though those statements are dated.
Hand noted that Ossoff could face competition from Georgia's other U.S. senator, Raphael Warnock.
"Both U.S. senators from Georgia, both Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff, are being discussed as potential presidential contenders," Hand said. "I think it's unlikely both would run for president. So first, if both are interested, there has to be some sorting out."
Early attention does not guarantee a campaign or a successful run. In past presidential cycles, figures such as Rudy Giuliani, Howard Dean and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush appeared to be strong contenders early on, but did not win their parties' nominations.
For Florida voters, DeSantis's national ambitions could reshape state politics, while Ossoff's rising profile in neighboring Georgia signals the Southeast's growing influence in national Democratic politics. Both parties are navigating the fallout from the midterms as the 2028 election season begins.