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If you’re a political junkie already nostalgic for the presidential campaign that ended Nov. 6, you won’t have long to wait for the next one. In fact, it started before the first votes were even counted as two governors, one from each party, took some important steps toward the 2016 presidential election.

The first is Maryland’s Dem-ocratic Gov. Martin O’Malley, who booked a flight to Israel that leaves two days after Thanksgiving and includes Jewish machers from around his state, as well as business and academic leaders, in what is ostensibly billed as a trade mission.

The second is New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who gave Americans a view of something missing on the Washington scene for years — Republican willingness to work with a Democratic president. I doubt that’s what he had in mind when, in the wake of Hurricane Sandy, he barked at reporters, “I don’t give a damn about Election Day. It doesn’t matter a lick to me at the moment. I’ve got bigger fish to fry,” but for Americans sick of the petty partisan bickering that has been going on for so long (and to which Christie contributed at times), it was like a light switch in the darkness.

Christie actually launched his campaign on the opening night of this summer’s Republican convention with a keynote address that dwelled more on his vision and achievements than the man his party was about to nominate. He already had turned down party bigwigs who urged him to get into the race himself, saying he didn’t feel he was ready.

His readiness to work with President Barack Obama in the days following the hurricane represented bipartisan cooperation at the national level. It remains to be seen whether that revolutionary concept will catch on and whether voters are as sick of partisan bickering as they tell pollsters.

Following Obama’s eight-year run, the Democrats will be looking for a new presidential candidate for 2016. Normally, the vice president is the leading contender, but Joe Biden, even though he is dropping hints he’d be interested, will be 74 that year.

The frontrunner has to be Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. She said she plans to retire from public life at the end of this year, but she will leave Washington with high approval ratings, a vast network of supporters, a large fundraising base, name recognition second to none and, of course, Bill. She will be 69 in 2016, the same age Ronald Reagan was when elected in 1980.

On the Republican side, Mitt Romney could try again in four years, barring that his running mate, Rep. Paul Ryan, would be a top contender. But he could face considerable competition.

Among the contenders, look for Ohio Sen. Rob Portman, who spent a lot of time at Romney’s side in this campaign and played Obama in their debate rehearsals. He is more moderate and less wonky than Ryan.

Some of the failed 2012 candidates have indicated they are thinking of running again, particularly former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum and Texas Gov. Rick Perry. Don’t be surprised to see Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota return, as well.

Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was a star at the GOP convention, sparking talk of a political future, but she is too moderate for the party base that dominates the primaries. She would be more likely to run for governor or senator in California.

Other likely candidates include a number of past and present governors: Jeb Bush of Florida, Bobby Jindal of Louisiana, Mitch Daniels of Indiana and his successor Mike Pence, Bob McDonnell of Virginia and Scott Walker of Wisconsin.

Florida’s junior senator, Marco Rubio, a tea party conservative whose base is in the powerful Cuban-American community, is a rapidly rising star.

Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, another tea party favorite, could decide to pick up the mantle of his retiring father, Rep. Ron Paul of Texas.

The Democrats also have a strong bench for 2016 that includes, in addition to Clinton and O’Malley, several governors, senators and mayors.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, like his father, prefers to play hard to get. Massachusetts Gov. Duval Patrick is a dynamic speaker who is close to Obama and could tap into the president’s network of backers.

Mayor Julian Castro of San Antonio, Texas, made a strong impression with his address at this year’s Democratic convention, reminding people of the little-known 2004 keynoter, the state senator from Illinois, Barack Obama. Few expected him to run four years later, much less get elected.

Don’t count out two other dynamic mayors: Corey Booker of Newark, N.J., and Antonio Villaraigosa of Los Angeles. And the Senate includes 100 ambitious politicians of both parties, many of whom are convinced they should be president.

How can you tell when a candidate is revving up to make the run? Like O’Malley, they make the pilgrimage to the Holy Land for photo ops at the wall, and they pose for pictures with presidents, prime minister and kings.

There are other signs of presidential ambition. Look for potential candidates to show up on television talk shows hawking ghostwritten books with subtitles like “My Vision for America.”

They also will hit the rubber-chicken circuit to help raise money for others and build contacts for themselves. And you’ll know for certain when they just happen to show up in Iowa or New Hampshire.

Throughout all this, they will deny that the trip, book or appearances have anything to do with future political ambitions, insisting they are focused on their present job and haven’t given any thought to running for the nation’s highest office.

Douglas M. Bloomfield is the president of Bloomfield Associates Inc., a Washington, D.C., lobbying and consulting firm. He spent nine years as the legislative director and chief lobbyist for AIPAC.