As of September 22, 2026, Republican politicians including Ted Cruz, Rand Paul, and John Kennedy are making early moves to challenge Vice President JD Vance for the 2028 presidential nomination. The fractious GOP primary contest could force Vance to address President Trump's unpopular policies.
At the Republican convention in Dallas on 11 September 2026, Vice President JD Vance emerged as a potential frontrunner for post-Trump Republican leadership, with other figures including Marco Rubio, Ron DeSantis, and Ted Cruz also mentioned as options. President Trump praised Vance as a "very talented guy" following his convention speech.
By September 10, 2026, Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio privately warned President Trump that the ongoing conflict with Iran could persist through 2029, contradicting his public claims of a quick resolution.
On August 25, 2026, Senator Ted Cruz stated that the Republican Party has not unified around Vice President Vance as the party's 2028 presidential nominee, as reported by The Hill.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio performed slightly better than Vice President JD Vance in multiple hypothetical 2028 presidential matchups against Democratic candidates, according to polling released by August 20, 2026.