Democratic Sen. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland told Zeteo that he is weighing a potential 2028 presidential campaign, adding to the early field of Democrats considering a White House bid.

“I’m very focused on kicking the tires on a 2028 national campaign,” Van Hollen said.

The 67-year-old Democrat has not formally announced a campaign, but his comments put him among the growing number of Democrats positioning themselves for the next presidential race.

A potential Van Hollen campaign would also carry baggage from several high-profile political controversies. Most notably, he became one of the leading Democratic figures in the fight over Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland man who was mistakenly deported to El Salvador in 2025.

Van Hollen traveled to El Salvador in an effort to meet with Abrego Garcia, who had been detained at the country’s notorious CECOT prison. The Trump administration had accused Abrego Garcia of being an MS-13 member, a claim Abrego Garcia denied and that his attorneys disputed. Van Hollen sharply criticized the administration over the deportation and made the case a major focus of his political activity.

The trip itself became another controversy after Van Hollen met with Abrego Garcia at a hotel following an initial effort to see him at the prison. Images released from the meeting showed the two men seated at a table with drinks, prompting a political dispute that Van Hollen dubbed “Margarita-gate.” He accused Salvadoran officials of attempting to create misleading optics around the meeting.

Van Hollen has also increasingly taken prominent positions on foreign policy and other national issues, including criticism of Israel and the Trump administration. In September, the Senate rejected a resolution he sponsored that sought a State Department report concerning the deaths of nine Americans in the West Bank.

While Van Hollen could attempt to position himself as a national progressive voice, a presidential campaign would be a long shot. He lacks the national profile of several other Democrats already viewed as potential 2028 contenders and would have to compete for attention, donors, and support in what is expected to be a crowded Democratic field.

For now, Van Hollen appears to be testing the waters rather than launching a formal campaign. His comments nevertheless make clear that he is considering a much larger political role beyond the Senate.