AceShowbiz -

The presidential race on "Scandal" is about to get juicier, according to star Bellamy Young. As Mellie is campaigning to become the next president, the show will soon introduce her challengers on both the Republican and Democratic side and some of them may come as a surprise.

"It's an amazing field of candidates," Young gushes about Mellie's presidential rivals. She tells EW, "I cannot wait for everybody to see some new and old faces. Some folks will be a surprise, some folks will be folks you know very, very well, and some folks you may not have seen in a minute. It's good and juicy."

"Scandal" returns with new episodes starting Thursday, February 11 at 9 P.M. on ABC.

While Mellie is busy with her presidential campaign, Fitz will focus on his work after splitting from Olivia. Tony Goldwyn recently said of his character, "He's trying very hard to focus on work and making the last year and a half of his presidency meaningful and effective."

He added, "He's doing pretty well on that. He really is obsessed with work. You know there's a ticking bomb in there somewhere for him, that he's trying to function well. I don't want to give anything away, but he's trying to find his way."