Op-ed: 

Elections 2026 and 2028...Compare and Contrast 

By: Diane Sori / The Patriot Factor

This article is the authors opinion alone, and does not necessarily represent the views of blogspot.com or Google. 

While the November midterms are fast approaching, and with Republicans needing to keep both the House and Senate so that President Trump's last two years in office can truly bring to fruition his “Make America Great Again” agenda...aka MAGA...I truly believe it's never too early to also start thinking ahead to the 2028 Presidential Election.

And while some folks say let's get through the midterm election first, I respectfully disagree if for no other reason than the fact that there are no absolutes in politics. After all, it's not a given that Republicans won't see the Democrats controlling the House and/or the Senate in 2026, nor is it a given that Republicans will hold onto the presidency in 2028.

And in regards to the presidency, remember this very important fact...as per the 22nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, ratified in 1951, a U.S. president can only serve two terms in office whether said terms be consecutive or with a break between each term. Simply, this amendment is the safeguard against the concentration of power in the executive branch.

Donald Trump cannot legally run for the presidency again nor can he run for vice-president no matter what anyone says. Why so...because Amendment 12 clearly states that “no person constitutionally ineligible to the office of President shall be eligible to that of Vice-President,” thus eliminating any outside chance of Trump ever becoming a vice-presidential candidate, not that he even wants that position. Why so... because Trump could become president again...for a third term...if something were to happen to the then sitting president where he was unable to finish out his term.

And to those diehard Trump supporters who think that they can try to find some legal maneuver around the Constitution to allow Trump to run for president again, know that they are mistaken for there is only one way that can happen, and that is to amend the Constitution in regards to presidential term limits. And that, dear reader, is something I can guarantee will not happen... not now and probably never.

So where does that leave we Republicans in regards to both 2026 and 2028? First this fact...the 2028 election might well become a referendum on continuing or not continuing with what has become known in some political circles as the “Trump era.” And second...with two+ years still to go before the next presidential election we are already starting to see certain “of name” politicians in both parties...with fringe party individuals included as well...trying to start lining up big money donor support; trying to garner important name recognition while trying to project a semblance of momentum before primary season even begins.

And know Democrat presidential hopefuls are doing all of the above as well.

But before I discuss some likely Republican 2028 presidential candidates, here are five facts that while not absolutes are still worth considering in what will surely be November's highly contested mid-term election, as well as 2028's presidential election.

Fact One: History has shown that when a successful now termed-out president of either party does leave office that their party still has a chance of holding onto power in the mid-term election that is unless...and this is key...the economy itself is then entering into or is in an actual downturn. And this is the time when many people seriously start asking themselves are prices at the pump now above or below what they were when the sitting president and his party took office...are the prices of groceries rising, falling or at best remaining stagnant...and is “affordability” still a “dirty word,” or is it a word to now be heralded?

Remember, with a majority of folks making political decisions with their pocketbooks in mind, especially if the economy seems weak at or around election time, it is quite possible for the opposition party...here being the Democrat party...to not only gain momentum but actual political ground, maybe even a full House and Senate sweep in 2026, and then a presidential sweep in 2028 again based solely upon the state of the economy.

And in both elections herein lies the point where some might have to make the difficult choice between pocketbook and country, and for far too many Americans it's a choice not easily made.

Fact Two: at around the time of the midterms, many folks also start revisiting the “social issues,” to see how the candidates meld with or differ from their own personal and/or religious views, while at the sane tine comparing said issues to previous campaign promises made, promises kept, and promises thrown by the way side as well. Simply, is the candidate themself and their party ideology actually worthy of two or four more years in power courtesy of their vote, or is it now the time for what they might consider to be a much needed political leadership change.

And the word “change” itself leads directly into the 2028 presidential scenario for some semblance of “change” will already have come courtesy of 2026's mid-term election results, whether the results be for better or worse depending on one's party affiliation. But no matter the scenario other facts simply cannot be ignored.

Fact Three: the MAGA concept will still drive the discourse in 2028, but with an unexpected twist in that the one deemed by most to be Trump's presidential heir apparent...meaning Vice President JD Vance...might not be that heir after all. Why so...because (I believe) two better candidates have already been spoken about in Republican political circles, as in Florida's Governor Ron DeSantis, and our current “Secretary of State” Marco Rubio.

And why are they better candidates...because while Vance is a good, decent, and honorable man who proudly served in our nation's military, many believe, as do I, that he has not shown himself to be presidential material. Basically a newbie to the Republican party, JD Vance only switched parties and became a Republican when he first announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate in July 2021, and only then became Trump's VP pick on the recommendation of Donald Jr., who saw strategic political advantages in using this young man...who once was an avowed “Never Trumper”...to help sway younger voters into voting Republican.

And while that ploy worked to a degree, Vance...a man too far to the religious far right who does not fully embrace our founding concept of “separation of Church and State”...has done nothing of political substance except being the president's “yes man” ...the resume of many former VPs...to warrant his being the leader of both the United States and the “free world.”

Simply, JD Vance, in my opinion, lacks political substance and actual leadership experience, something that can only be garnered with time and application. And besides, many times vice-presidents have turned into one-term presidents...“Read my lips,” George HW, Bush comes quickly to mind... making them basically “lame duck presidents,” which usually hurts their party in the next election cycle go-round.

Fact Four: Now, on the other hand, history shows that governors tend to make both the best presidential candidates and the best presidents. Why so...because as their state's elected head, a governor is able to show the voters how their executive experience, crisis management skills, and budgetary successes resulted in tangible all around achievements for their state's citizens. And two-term Governor Ron DeSantis' overall handling of the now and forever to be “Free State of Florida”...along with his recent spearheading the big win for Republicans regarding the redistricting issue....has seen him resonating well with voters nationwide.

Fact Five: And while six “Secretaries of State”* became president up until the mid-19th century... no modern day president has been “Secretary of State” or “National Security Advisor” But that could change courtesy of current “Secretary of State” Marco Rubio who ranks right up there with Henry Kissinger as one of the hardest working, most diligent “Secretary of State's” ever. 

And with Marco Rubio's 14-year experience as a U.S. Senator...as opposed to Vance's mere 18 months...and being both the Chair and the Vice Chair of the “Senate Intelligence Committee,” and also chairing the “Senate Small Business Committee,” Rubio is very well versed in government operations, and was the only one of Trump's cabinet picks to be unanimously approved by both Republicans and Democrats alike...bipartisanship in action...something our country desperately needs.

And when you compare both men's resumes to that of JD Vance, for the sake of our beloved America I hope President Trump lets “We the People “ decide who will head the 2028 presidential ticket even if if means having an open convention...even if it means JD Vance on his own sees the writing on the wall, and decides not to run.

Our country deserves leaders who shine...let's give her that starting in 2026 by setting her on the right track for 2028. Case closed.
__________________________________________

Footnote

* The six Secretaries of State who became U.S. President were: Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, James Monroe, John Quincy Adams, Martin Van Buren, and James Buchanan.

Copyright © 2026 / Diane Sori / The Patriot Factor / All rights reserved.

************************************************************************************************** For more political commentary please visit my RIGHT SIDE PATRIOTS partner Craig Andresen's blog The National Patriot to read his latest article, Operation Let Them Talk.

**************************************************************************************************************************

RIGHT SIDE PATRIOTS...LIVE! 

Tomorrow, Tuesday, May 12th from 7 to 8:30pm EST, RIGHT SIDE PATRIOTS Craig Andresen and Diane Sori discuss 'Election 2026 and 2028...Compare and Contrast'; 'Operation Let Them Talk'; and important news of the day. Tune in to RIGHT SIDE PATRIOTS on https://rspradio1.com Click 'LISTEN LIVE.' 

Just a Thought

Trump vindicated as OPEC faces collapse following UAE departure                                                                                                 'When we look back at one of the strategic victories from Operation Epic Fury, it is that it has changed the face of the OPEC cartel forever,' expert says                                        Simon Constable / FOXBusiness 

The price of gasoline is set to drop as the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) appears poised to collapse, experts predict. OPEC has long kept crude oil prices higher than they would otherwise be. If this pans out, it will be a major victory for the Trump administration, which is resetting global energy markets.

The news of a probable end of the oil cartel also vindicates President Donald Trump, who has previously said OPEC is "ripping off the rest of the world." For a long time, the president has led a pressure campaign against OPEC, which has vast crude oil reserves that could easily be pumped. But the organization restricts the number of barrels of oil that each country may pump each day. That keeps gasoline prices elevated across the U.S. and much of the rest of the world. 

Phil Flynn, senior market analyst at The PRICE Futures Group and a FOX Business contributor said, "Over time, the breakup of the cartel should cause gas prices to fall. With more player pricing, oil only being contained by market forces should lead to an ounce of supply and lower prices. Competition is good as it lowers prices and collusion by producers raises prices." Read more, see video and photos here.

RIGHT SIDE PATRIOTS...Podcast                                                      Here's the podcast of last nights LIVE radio broadcast where RIGHT SIDE PATRIOTS Craig and Diane discussed President Trump’s 'summit' with Chinese leader Xi Jinping; yet another Iranian protester executed; UFO tracker maps records tens of thousands of mysterious underwater objects up and down the U.S. coastlines; and our Q&A 'Off the Cuff' segment.Listen to it on https://rspradio1.podbean.com or on our RSP website at https://rspradio1.com/?page_id=39 

UFO tracker maps eerie clusters of unidentified objects lurking beneath US shorelines: 'We're being lied to'

California and Florida lead in coastal UFO reports as experts question government transparency

Julia Bonavita / Fox News 

A popular UFO-reporting app has been making waves after reportedly recording tens of thousands of mysterious underwater objects up and down the United States’ coastlines, raising eyebrows and leaving experts with more questions than answers regarding their origin.

Enigma, a non-partisan organization that boasts its "largest queryable historical sighting database for global UFO sightings," has recorded roughly 30,000 UFO sightings since its launch in 2022, according to the company’s website.

However, users have turned their attention away from the skies in the hunt for proof that life may exist elsewhere.

Since August, Enigma has documented more than 9,000 sightings of mysterious objects within 10 miles of United States shorelines or other major bodies of water, Marine Technology News reported. 

Unidentified Submersible Objects (USOs) are defined as "any object detected underwater that cannot be immediately identified or explained," according to the outlet. Read more, see video and photos here.

Iran’s twisted final insult to family as they execute protester dad: ‘Psychological torture’

Ronny Reyes / NEW YORK POST 

An Iranian father who protested the regime was executed after the state canceled his final visit with his family — only to tell them over the phone afterwards that they already killed him, his grieving relatives said.

Mohammad Abbasi, 55, was executed on Wednesday inside the Qezel Hesar prison, in Karaj, as his family was ordered to come see him one last time, according to the Iran Human Rights Monitor group.

But when the family got there to say their goodbyes, prison officials rejected their plea to see Abbasi, sending them home and calling them later to inform them that his execution had been carried out.

“The prevention of a final visit is not only psychological torture of the family, but also an explicit violation of the Executive Regulations of the Prisons Organization and international standards for prisoners’ rights, which emphasize the right to a farewell before the execution of a death sentence,” Iran HRM said in a statement.

“The objective of these legal violations goes beyond punishing an individual; it aims to psychologically paralyze society and create a ‘paralyzing shock’ among protesters to suppress the public will for seeking justice,” the group added.

Chaos erupts behind the scenes of Trump’s China trip — including trampled White House aide 

Emily Goodin / NEW YORK POST 

BEIJING — President Trump’s much-anticipated summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping has been marred by multiple physical altercations just offstage.

Among the incidents that took place Thursday:

• A White House staffer was trampled by Chinese reporters.
• A Secret Service agent was kept out of official events.
• American journalists were prevented from joining the presidential motorcade.

The chaos was all captured by a cameraman accompanying “Rush Hour” director Brett Ratner as he prepares to shoot a fourth installment of the beloved feature film franchise.

The dust-ups with the Chinese caused frustrations to boil over on the American side, with one member of the US delegation overheard calling it a “s—tshow.”

As part of an effort by Chinese officials to keep a tight hold of their American guests and dictate coverage of a global news event, US reporters have been subject to strict controls — including limited access to bathrooms and the confiscation of water bottles. Read more, see video and photos here.