A glance at the “2028 Presidential Election” Wikipedia page reveals an interesting dynamic. It may seem premature to speculate on the outcome of an election more than two years away, but it does let the imaginations of the politically curious run wild. Wikipedia lists potential candidates from both parties and groups them into two camps: individuals who have expressed an interest in running and those whose candidacies have only been speculated about by the media.
Most of the list is of no surprise to anyone. They include the obvious frontrunners — J.D. Vance and Marco Rubio for Republicans and Gavin Newsom for Democrats — along with a lengthy list of candidates from past presidential elections. One speculated candidate, however, is in a league of their own. They’re not a politician, nor a former service member, but have instead come to prominence through hosting a long-running television show — sounds familiar. But this isn’t the second coming of Donald Trump, but rather someone poised to give whoever next leads the Republican party a run for their money: comedian Jon Stewart.
It’s uncertain whether or not Stewart intends to run. I argue he should — and Americans should welcome it.
Stewart is an interesting figure who doesn’t quite subscribe to the desperate need to stay relevant, which plagues so many celebrities — or politicians. He is best known as the host of “The Daily Show” on Comedy Central from 1999 until his retirement in 2015. During his tenure, he was a leading critic of the Bush administration, and his show enjoyed sustained cultural relevance, helping launch the careers of correspondents Steven Colbert, Steve Carell, John Oliver and Ed Helms. He had several notable scuffles with conservative commentators, including multiple debates with Fox News’s Bill O’Reilly and an infamous appearance on CNN’s Crossfire — a political debate show — alongside then-panelist Tucker Carlson. Stewart called out the show for what it was: partisan hacks engaged in political theatre and bluntly asked them to “stop hurting America.” This appearance is partially credited with earning Carlson the first of his long line of public firings.
Politically, Stewart can be summarized as an old-school liberal who doesn’t suffer fools, in a similar — albeit less severe — vein to fellow political commentator Bill Maher. Stewart has generally been a vocal supporter of the Democratic establishment but hasn’t gone along with much of their virtue signaling in recent years. His strength as a candidate doesn’t stem from any specific policy initiatives, but rather his authenticity and reluctance for the spotlight — something politicians inherently lack.
After Stewart threw in the towel in 2015, he kept an extremely low public profile for most of the next decade. When he did make appearances, they were for selfless purposes like his advocacy for benefits for 9/11 first responders and veterans of the War on Terror. When Stewart does something, you feel the sense that it is done out of genuine care rather than as a photo-op.
Another advantage Stewart holds as a presidential candidate is the relative freshness of his opinions. Because he exited The Daily Show in August 2015 — right as the age of Trump was beginning — I argue his talking points don’t suffer the same staleness as the commentators and politicians who have been bashing Trump and his MAGA army for more than a decade. Whether you agree with them or not, hearing Steven Colbert or Jimmy Kimmel attack Trump in their 2000th monologue doesn’t hold the same effect it once did. Jon Stewart did make a return to hosting The Daily Show in February 2024, but only for one show a week, striking a balance between maintaining relevancy in progressive circles without facing ire from the right — like Stewart’s protégé Steven Colbert did.
There are several hurdles to a Stewart presidency, not the least of which is his apparent disinterest in the idea. Speculation of Stewart running first began when he was interviewed by political commentator Mehdi Hassan on the latter’s podcast. During a conversation about potential Democrat candidates in 2028, Hassan told Stewart, “Please, please, no reality hosts, I beg of you. Unless Jon, you’re thinking of throwing your hat in the ring, which I know many people want.” Stewart laughed at the comment but also didn’t deny it.
The second hurdle, Stewart’s lack of political experience, may actually have the opposite effect if he decides to run. If the 2016 presidential election — and more recently the 2025 New York City Mayoral race — proved anything, it's that experience doesn’t win politicians elections like it used to. Being an outsider is Stewart’s strongest allure as a candidate.
The most important criterion of a president is not to have all the answers to America’s problems — like some politicians proclaim to — but to have the wisdom to surround themselves with the best and brightest minds who can help them achieve these goals, and to inspire Americans to strive for better. Sadly, this may seem like an overly idealistic interpretation of American politics to most people, but when America has a chance to advocate for a promising, albeit unlikely, presidential candidate, they should. Stewart may have no intention of running for president, but because of this he passes an important litmus test: being reluctant to wield power. It is my hope that with some encouragement he does decide to throw his hat in the ring — and, with that, make November 2028 feel a little less distant.
Opinion articles represent the views of their author(s), which are not necessarily those of The Dartmouth.
