Kevin Rudd is stepping down early as Australia’s ambassador to the United States in 2026, and no official replacement has been announced yet. Instead, there is active speculation in political circles about several likely contenders.

Current situation

  • Kevin Rudd will leave the Washington role around March 2026, about a year earlier than originally expected.
  • Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has said the government will announce a replacement, but has not named anyone so far.

Leading political contenders

Several prominent Labor figures are being discussed as possible options to replace Kevin Rudd as ambassador to the US.

  • Joel Fitzgibbon – Former Labor frontbencher and Defence Minister in Rudd’s government; seen as a politically experienced choice with defence credentials.
  • Stephen Conroy – Former Communications Minister and powerful Labor right figure; previously considered for the Washington posting but reportedly declined for family reasons.
  • Greg Combet – Former Climate Change and Industry Minister, now chair of the Future Fund; viewed as a “safe” and credible option, though considered more of an outside chance.

Other names in the mix

Beyond ex-ministers, a few additional possibilities have been floated in commentary.

  • Current frontbenchers – Some Labor MPs privately speculate that a sitting minister could resign from parliament and take the Washington job, similar to past precedents.
  • Greg Moriarty – The Defence Secretary, a former ambassador to Iran and ex–chief of staff to Malcolm Turnbull, has been mentioned as a potential diplomatic choice given his security background and current visits to Washington.

What to expect next

  • The role is considered Australia’s most “prized” diplomatic posting, so factional politics and personal loyalties within Labor will likely influence the final decision.
  • Until the government formally announces a nominee, any talk of “who will replace Kevin Rudd” remains informed speculation, with Fitzgibbon, Conroy and Combet most frequently cited as frontrunners.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.