Many fans of The Bachelor franchise have been buzzing about who will be the next lead, and as of now there are several good options. Though the next Bachelor probably won’t be announced for several months, it can’t hurt to speculate over who would be the right guy for the role.
Obviously, contestants from Tayshia Adams’ and Katie Thurston’s season will be the top contenders, but there are years of contestants who could fit the bill as well. There will also be a whole new crop of contestants introduced on Michelle Young’s upcoming season of The Bachelorette.
It is possible that with all the options at the franchise's disposal, the show decides to have two Bachelor seasons next year to follow up on the dual Bachelorette seasons. Before that happens, however, the list of possible candidates has to be narrowed down.
Justin Glaze
As Katie Thurston’s runner-up, Justin is the traditional choice for the next Bachelor, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see him take the lead. The sensitive painter became a fan favorite for the epic facial expressions he gave throughout the entire season. His main source of controversy comes from some homophobic tweets from a decade ago. Justin is an easy choice given how far he went on Katie’s season, but will possibly be overlooked because his edit didn't show as much of his personality as it did with his other cast mates.
Andrew Spencer
Although he has gotten into the same hot water as Justin for some of his old tweets, there are many who think Andrew would make a great Bachelor. Andrew is handsome and charming in a humble way and would surely be a hit with the contestants. He may not have been the right choice for Katie, but Andrew still has a good idea of what he’s looking for in a partner and feels he’s ready for an engagement. Andrew would probably be a popular choice for the next Bachelor.
Michael Allio
If there’s one contestant from Katie’s season not named Andrew that fans want as their Bachelor, it’s Michael Allio. The widower and single dad has one of the most tragic and inspirational backstories since former Bachelorette Emily Maynard, and it’s impossible to not root for him. Michael had to leave Katie’s season to be with his son, but if he were the Bachelor, his son could either stay with him on location, or the show can move to Michael’s home, like it did for Emily’s season. Michael is a near-universal fan favorite who would be a slam-dunk lead.
Connor Brennan
Connor’s kissing skills weren’t up to Katie’s standards, but that’s not to say he wouldn’t be a popular Bachelor with fans and contestants. From the moment he stepped out of the limo in a kitty costume, Connor was a fan favorite, and viewers couldn’t get enough of his original songs and quick-draw dad jokes. Though many Bachelor Nation fans would enjoy having Connor for the lead, his defense of his friend Greg Grippo’s behavior on the show wasn't the best look for some fans.
John Hersey
John was one of the more slept-on contestants from Katie’s season, but he has all the makings of a great Bachelor. The bartender and pilot-in-training from San Diego is handsome, funny, and humble, which would make him a lead that fans would love rooting for. Unlike some of his castmates, John is far from controversial and has even called out problematic behavior on the show. If John were to become the lead, he would also be the first Bachelor of Asian descent, which would be a win for diversity and representation.
Ben Smith
Ben has said he has no intentions to be the Bachelor, but that was at the beginning of the year, right after coming off of Tayshia Adams’ season, and a lot may have changed for him since then. The popular veteran has been considered Tyler Cameron 2.0 by many fans for the respect he has for women and how in touch he is with his emotions. Ben has been through some truly difficult times in his life and many viewers would love nothing more than to see him find love as the lead of The Bachelor.
Ivan Hall
Tayshia sent Ivan home after fantasy suites week, but Ivan resonated strongly with fans. Like a Bachelor Nation Stefan Urquelle, Ivan was effortlessly suave while still coming across as down-to-earth and approachable—great qualities to have in a Bachelor. However, Ivan was hesitant about returning to Bachelor Nation due to its spotty history (and present) with race and representation. Fans may want to see Ivan take the lead, but he might decline unless real changes are made to the franchise.
Dr. Joe Park
Dr. Joe was another contestant who went home early on Tayshia’s season but became a fan favorite nonetheless. From his origami offerings to Tayshia to the bromance he shares with his castmates, it’s easy to see why viewers took a shine to Dr. Joe. If he doesn’t find love on Bachelor in Paradise, Joe would make a fun and relatable Bachelor who, like John Hersey, would be a major step forward for diversity in the franchise.
Tyler Cameron
Though Tyler was a contestant back on Hannah Brown’s season, the runner-up is an extremely popular figure in Bachelor Nation. For years, viewers have wanted Tyler to be the Bachelor, and he’s gained a strong following of fans who appreciate his feminist views, emotional maturity, and, of course, formidable good looks. However, Tyler has been actively dating since his time on Hannah’s season, and the timing just never lined up—until now. Tyler and girlfriend Camila have reportedly split up, so if he wants it, the stars may have finally aligned to make him the next Bachelor.
Mike Johnson
As another popular contestant from Hannah Brown’s season, Mike Johnson was once in serious consideration for the lead of The Bachelor. Mike seems tailor-made for the role of the Bachelor—he’s respectful, fun, well-rounded, ready for a serious relationship, and has an infectious smile. Though he’s from a few seasons past, Mike is still very popular among fans and choosing him for the Bachelor would likely be met with applause.
There are still many months before ABC has to choose who will be the next lead of The Bachelor, so fans shouldn't expect an announcement any time soon. However, the network has a lot of great options for the next Bachelor.