JD Vance Weighing Whether To Skip The 2028 Presidential Race: Report
Vice President JD Vance is weighing whether to sit out the 2028 presidential race as he considers his family, the political environment and the future of President Donald Trump's movement.
Vance has not made a final decision, and several people close to him say he is still more likely than not to seek the Republican nomination. But conversations with allies and advisers show the 42-year-old is seriously considering all of his options after Republicans' difficult midterms.
Vance has long been seen as the natural successor to Trump and remains one of the most prominent possible contenders. The picture has become more complicated, however, after Republican losses and continued voter frustration over the economy and the war with Iran.
'It Just May Not Be His Time'
One Vance ally told CNN that sitting out 2028 would not end his presidential ambitions because of his age.
READ MORE: Trump Says He Doesn't Disagree With Vance That Iran War Hurt GOP in Midterms
"I wouldn't be surprised by any decision he makes," the ally said. "He's only 42. He's young enough that he can have a comeback should this environment make success impossible. It just may not be his time."
Family is also part of the calculation. Vance and his wife, Usha, welcomed their fourth child in July, and people close to him told The Washington Post that he dislikes raising his children under the constant protection and restrictions that come with Secret Service security.
The vice president reportedly plans to use the holidays, and possibly the first months of 2027, to think through his options.
Several allies insist the midterm results have not fundamentally changed his thinking. "Two years is such an eternity in politics, and people are very easily prisoners of the moment," one person close to Vance told the Post.
Breaking With The Iran War
Vance has already started separating himself from some of the administration's most controversial policies, especially the war with Iran, which he argued played a major role in Republican losses.
"There will be a lot of infighting and arguing over what happened and why that is," Vance wrote. "The reason we lost is the war. The president himself said so last night."
READ MORE: Nikki Haley Rules Out A 2028 Presidential Run: 'I Am Not Running'
On Thursday, Trump publicly redirected Vance away from Iran negotiations and toward corruption in Democratic-run cities and states. "We don't need a deal with Iran. Those days have long since passed," Trump wrote.
A Crowded Field And Skeptical Donors
Other Republicans are already being discussed for 2028, including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also remains prominent in early speculation, although he has said he would support Vance if the vice president runs.
A Reuters/Ipsos poll released this week found 41% of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents rated Vance as an excellent potential 2028 candidate, narrowly ahead of Rubio at 40%.
Vance could also face resistance from some major donors. Republican fundraiser Eric Levine told the Post that "the large donors that I've spoken to, there's no support for the guy, and they're looking where they can put their money."
His supporters counter that the political environment could change dramatically before voters start choosing the next nominee. For now, Vance appears determined not to rush the decision, and for the first time his allies are openly acknowledging that a 2028 run is not guaranteed.