The first season of "The Bachelorette" (open in new tab), which has two seasons this year, just ended, and fans were wondering which contestant from Katie Thurston (open in new tab) will be the next Bachelorette. While there are still Michelle Young's bachelorette season (open in new tab) and Bachelor in Paradise (open in new tab) left, this is a good time to discuss the rumored frontrunners for Bachelor season 26.

The next season of The Bachelor is expected to air in early 2022. It will be the first season since the off-screen drama of Matt James' season (opens in new tab) led to a franchise-wide retooling, with longtime host Chris Harrison leaving the show. (Open in new tab) It remains to be seen whether Bachelor producers will play it safe or opt for a lead character (i.e., another white male) who fits the historical Bachelor mold. Either way, fans are eagerly awaiting the arrival of a charismatic leading man who will cheer him on in his journey of love.

According to ABC entertainment executive Rob Mills, fan opinion will play a major role in who is chosen. Mills told Variety (open in new tab), "The silent producers of this show are the viewers. And we see people who went home too soon and were great but didn't have enough time to shine. Sometimes the pond is really dry. The pond is flooding."

So who has already risen in the Bachelor race:

Single father Ario quickly won the hearts of Thurston and viewers in season 17. In addition to being handsome and charming, the 36-year-old widower spoke movingly about losing his wife Laura to breast cancer in early 2019. Alio and Thurston formed a strong bond early on, but Alio was concerned about spending time away from his 4-year-old son James. Ario eventually left the show to return home to his son, but returned for a conversation with Katie in an episode of Men Tell All.

A social media campaign supporting Ario as the next Bachelor popped up shortly after his self-exclusion. Ario told People (opens in new tab) after the "Men Tell All" episode that he was a little hesitant about the job. He said, "I literally just had my heart broken on TV, so I'm trying to fix that feather in my cap. Plus, I have to think about what it would be like to get engaged or introduce someone to my son on such short notice. I'm not comfortable with that idea." It's early days yet, but Ario seems to have a lot to think about. In particular, whether his son would be comfortable with him taking on the role.

However, Bachelor Nation's latest casting call has fans wondering if Ario is a good fit for The Bachelor: the franchise's official Instagram page posted last Friday for "eligible single women, divorcees, and single mothers." It posted a casting call for applications. The new emphasis on divorced and single mothers suggests that the new Bachelor may be looking for contestants with more life experience or who are open to becoming mothers soon.

The football player was a fan favorite throughout Thurston's season, but he was eliminated shortly before his hometown date. Spencer also experienced one of the more dramatic departures from the show, when Thurston asked him to rejoin the season the day after he was eliminated and Spencer turned her down.

Spencer opened up in "Men Tell All" and said he was a hopeless romantic and was now waiting for someone to "pick him out for himself." He also told host Tayshia Adams that he does not want to shy away about interracial relationships, which is a conversation the Bachelor franchise is likely to have in the near future.

Asked if he would say yes to becoming a Bachelor, Spencer told E. (opens in new tab), "I don't know. I definitely won't be jumping into Jesus anytime soon. I'm still looking for the supernatural, the kind of love that makes you fall in love the moment you walk into a grocery store, or the moment you go to a bar and see her. You have to understand, this is definitely a process. It's a lot of work, so you have to have the conversation and you have to really think about it."

If it means anything, Spencer has Thurston's vote for the role." My two votes are going to make Andrew and Michael the next Bachelor," Thurston told Us Weekly (opens in new tab)." I think they are in a place where they are really ready to settle down and they have really grown a lot as men."

Gripper said, "I think they're in a place where they're really ready to settle down and they've really grown a lot as men.

Grippo was the front-runner (open in new tab) for Thurston's entire season, captivating fans on opening night and earning Thurston's first impression rose. Until the hometown episode, fans loved the caring and vulnerable Grippo while dating Thurston. Then the Hometown episode happened, and Grippo left the show in a dramatic self-dropout that split Bachelorette Nation in two.

Fellow contestants on Season 17 had Grippo's back, but many Bachelor fans who had rooted for him changed their attitudes, especially after his acting past was exposed. He took Thruston's harsh comments to heart on After the Final Rose, wished her well, and collected himself a bit. Thruston's troubled exit from the season may have been enough to lower his chances of becoming the next Bachelor, but the Bachelor producers have made an even stranger choice.

To the surprise of many fans, Reality Steve announced on August 19 (open in new tab) that he had heard from multiple sources that Grippo would be the next Bachelor; although the choice was not confirmed until ABC made the announcement, Steve said he would be "very surprised" if Grippo did not take the spot. Steve said he would be "very surprised" if Grippo did not take the position. Steve said of this polarizing choice, "For what it's worth, as far as I'm concerned, he's the next Bachelor.

Cameron, a Bachelor Nation alum and runner-up in Hannah Brown's season, made waves last week when he confirmed his breakup (open in new tab) with model Camila Kendra. Some Bachelor fans have wondered if Cameron, now single, is in talks for the role, as he has remained in the Bachelor's orbit since his appearance on The Bachelorette (not to mention, he's BFFs with Matt James). It wouldn't be the first time the show has gone back several seasons to find a bachelor or bachelorette. In addition, Cameron, who has recently been promoting his new book, You Deserve Better, has accompanied a recent IG post (opens in new tab) with the enigmatic caption: "Time for a record year."

The aeronautical engineer (opens in new tab) has wowed fans with his devotion to his family, making it to the final four of Claire Crowley and Tayshia Adams' Bachelorette season. He and Adams also discussed race and the "Black Lives" movement in depth, and the two hit it off because they are both biracial; since December 2020, fans have been pushing Hall as the bachelor of choice, and his appearance on "Bachelor in Paradise" will likely give him even more momentum.

Grocery Store Joe appeared on Bachelor in Paradise Season 5 and instantly became a Bachelor Nation favorite, even though he only lasted one episode on Becca Kruffin's Bachelor season. The former grocery store owner dated BiP cast member Kendall Long for several months after they met on the show and broke up in early 2020.

Amabile is currently on his own star-studded path on this season of Bachelor in Paradise, and some Bachelor Nation alumni even believe he will receive a Bachelor edit, in preparation for when he may land the gig. Wells Adams first hinted that the BiP cast member would be a fan favorite on the next Bachelor when he appeared on Nick Viall's podcast.

"I think there's a particular person that everyone wants to be the Bachelor, and I'm not even sure if I can be the Bachelor at the end," Adams said.After watching the premiere of BiP, Viall is "almost certain" that the subject of Adams' hint is Amabile He said. However, according to sources (open in new tab), Amabile will be leaving Paradise with Selina Pitt and may not be free to take the Bachelor job.