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.
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.
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.
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 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 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 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.
************************************************************************************************** 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.
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