# Frontrunners for Democratic presidential nomination in 2028

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036>\
**Category:** Politics & Elections\
**Created:** [January 16, 2025, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036 "2025-01-16T06:50:54Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 1219

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**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\
**Post date:** [January 5, 2026, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frontrunners-for-democratic-presidential-nomination-in-2028/1013036/1219 "2026-01-05T21:41:03Z")

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Pete just can’t stop giving Mark Kelly free publicity. You’d think he **wants** him to run.

> # Hegseth Starts Proceedings Against Sen. Mark Kelly Over His Remarks
> 
> _Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth blasted the senator for “seditious” remarks. Mr. Kelly said he had done nothing wrong and cited similar comments by Mr. Hegseth._
> 
> [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/05/us/politics/hegseth-mark-kelly.html?unlocked\_article\_code=1.CFA.6FrT.4u27G1cogny2&smid=url-share](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/05/us/politics/hegseth-mark-kelly.html?unlocked_article_code=1.CFA.6FrT.4u27G1cogny2&smid=url-share)
> 
> Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the military had started administrative actions against Senator Mark Kelly, Democrat of Arizona, that could result in a reduction in his retirement rank and military pension.
> 
> In November, Mr. Kelly and five other Democratic lawmakers who served in the military or the intelligence community released a video reminding their still-serving counterparts that they were obligated to refuse illegal orders.
> 
> In a social media message issued on Monday, Mr. Hegseth called the video “seditious” and criticized Mr. Kelly for a “pattern of reckless misconduct” aimed at undermining good order and discipline in the ranks.
> 
> Mr. Kelly and his lawyers maintained last month that the senator was simply articulating a fundamental principle of military law. They noted that Mr. Hegseth had made similar statements in the past.
> 
> …
> 
> “If you’re doing something that is just completely unlawful and ruthless, then there is a consequence for that,” Mr. Hegseth said in a speech to the Liberty Forum of Silicon Valley in 2016. “That’s why the military said it won’t follow unlawful orders from their commander in chief.”  
> …

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