Sen. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., indicated she would consider a 2028 presidential run, though she emphasized her current focus is on the 2026 midterms. Speaking to the Des Moines Register during a trip to Iowa, Slotkin said she would not “say no forever” if she felt the party lacked viable leadership after the next election cycle.

Slotkin, 49, first won a House seat in 2018 by flipping a Republican district and captured a Senate seat in 2024, one of only four Democrats to win statewide in a state carried by President Donald Trump. Her visit to Iowa, a key battleground for Democrats in 2026, fueled speculation about her national ambitions.

During a town hall with 3rd District Democrat Sarah Trone Garriott, Slotkin stressed she is focused on shaping the national conversation and reconnecting the party with Midwestern voters. She criticized what she called the party’s “old system” and establishment approach, asserting the need for a “different way forward” for Democrats.

Slotkin also discussed the 2028 primary calendar, saying it would be “malpractice” not to include a Midwestern state early in the process, while joking that she would prefer Michigan over Iowa to take the lead. She acknowledged the heightened attention that comes with visiting Iowa, noting that “the minute you try and set foot in Iowa, the people kind of lose their minds a little bit.”