When Politicians Stop Being Ambitious - 9/21/26

The headline to this week’s column is intentionally ridiculous. Politicians never stop being ambitious, at least not until old age, poor health, or death requires it. As the late Congressman Morris Udall once said, “The only cure for presidential fever is embalming fluid.”

Joe Biden ran for president four times over more than three decades before finally achieving his goal. Ronald Reagan and Franklin Roosevelt each ran four times too, as did Ralph Nader. Donald Trump is one of nine men who ran three times (Joe Biden actually ran three-and-a-half times). It’s clear that what Udall referred to as “presidentialitis,” once contracted, is a lifelong affliction.

So what are Marco Rubio and Gavin Newsom up to? Rubio, who ran unsuccessfully in 2016 and has served in the Senate and as Secretary of State, has indicated that he would not run in the next election if Vice President J.D. Vance were a candidate. Newsom, who has not yet run but appears to have been planning his candidacy since early adolescence, told a credulous reporter last week that he would opt out of the 2028 race if Vance’s predecessor, former Vice President Kamala Harris, chose to make her own third try for the Oval Office.

While it is possible that Rubio and Newsom have somehow been inoculated from this disease, what’s far more likely is that neither of them has actually been cured of this affliction but rather have learned how to temporarily mask the symptoms.

Rubio’s case is easier to decipher. Trump selected Vance as his running mate two years ago, and while the president plainly enjoys pitting Vance and Rubio against each other, frequently asking others which of his two advisors they would prefer, Vance’s relentless pursuit of MAGA nation may have earned him Trump’s favor.

Because Rubio developed a more extensive record in public office prior to Trump’s first campaign, he is often viewed as somewhat of a Bush-era Republican. Combined with his more measured outreach to Trump’s most loyal supporters, he does not elicit the same level of enthusiasm from the party base as his potential rival. As Trump’s second term winds down, he may command less loyalty from grassroots Republicans. It’s also possible that Trump, never known for his loyalty, may develop more affection for Rubio over the next two years. 

The headline to this week’s column is intentionally ridiculous. Politicians never stop being ambitious, at least not until old age, poor health, or death requires it. As the late Congressman Morris Udall once said, “The only cure for presidential fever is embalming fluid.”

Joe Biden ran for president four times over more than three decades before finally achieving his goal. Ronald Reagan and Franklin Roosevelt each ran four times too, as did Ralph Nader. Donald Trump is one of nine men who ran three times (Joe Biden actually ran three-and-a-half times). It’s clear that what Udall referred to as “presidentialitis,” once contracted, is a lifelong affliction.

So what are Marco Rubio and Gavin Newsom up to? Rubio, who ran unsuccessfully in 2016 and has served in the Senate and as Secretary of State, has indicated that he would not run in the next election if Vice President J.D. Vance were a candidate. Newsom, who has not yet run but appears to have been planning his candidacy since early adolescence, told a credulous reporter last week that he would opt out of the 2028 race if Vance’s predecessor, former Vice President Kamala Harris, chose to make her own third try for the Oval Office.

While it is possible that Rubio and Newsom have somehow been inoculated from this disease, what’s far more likely is that neither of them has actually been cured of this affliction but rather have learned how to temporarily mask the symptoms.

Rubio’s case is easier to decipher. Trump selected Vance as his running mate two years ago, and while the president plainly enjoys pitting Vance and Rubio against each other, frequently asking others which of his two advisors they would prefer, Vance’s relentless pursuit of MAGA nation may have earned him Trump’s favor.

Because Rubio developed a more extensive record in public office prior to Trump’s first campaign, he is often viewed as somewhat of a Bush-era Republican. Combined with his more measured outreach to Trump’s most loyal supporters, he does not elicit the same level of enthusiasm from the party base as his potential rival. As Trump’s second term winds down, he may command less loyalty from grassroots Republicans. It’s also possible that Trump, never known for his loyalty, may develop more affection for Rubio over the next two years.