Vice President JD Vance was asked by Fox News host Sean Hannity if he thinks about running for president in 2028, in a new interview that aired Thursday night.
Why It Matters
Speculation over Vance’s potential 2028 presidential run has intensified, drawing attention to the Republican Party’s post-Trump era and the early landscape of the next election cycle.
As polls show Vance in close hypothetical matchups with leading Democrats, his role and visibility within the Trump administration have positioned him as a potential front-runner for the GOP nomination.
What To Know
During the eponymous Fox program Hannity, the host asked Vance about his future and if he’s put any thought into running.
“I would say that I’ve thought about what that moment might look like after the midterm elections,” Vance said. “But I also, whenever I think about that, I try to put it out of my head and remind myself the American people elected me to do a job right now, and my job is to do it.”
The vice president noted that if “you start getting distracted and focused on what comes next,” it could make “you worse at the job that you have,” adding that he is focused on Republicans winning next year’s midterm elections.
“So, we’re gonna win the midterms, we’re gonna do everything that we can to win the midterms, and then after that, I’m gonna sit down with the president of the United States and talk to him about it,” Vance said. “But let’s focus on the now.”
“My attitude Sean is, look, if we do a good job, the politics will take care of itself. If we do a terrible job, the politics will take care of itself in the other direction, so I’m just going to focus on the job that I have,” the vice president told Hannity.
Recent polling also highlights Vance’s position among potential 2028 presidential candidates. A survey conducted by SoCal Strategies and sponsored by On Point Politics and Red Eagle Politics, found that in a hypothetical matchup, California Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom led Vance by 2 percentage points (39 percent to 37 percent), with 23 percent undecided. In another scenario, former Democratic U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg led Vance by 4 points (41 percent to 37 percent), with 21 percent undecided.
What People Are Saying
Political analyst Craig Agranoff, to Newsweek via text message on Thursday when asked if Vance is perceived as the potential 2028 GOP front-runner: “Whether he emerges as the glaring front-runner depends on several factors: his current role as VP gives him a high profile platform, and his alignment with Trump’s base, bolstered by recent polling showing him as a leading contender, strengthens his position.
“The field still remains fluid with figures like Secretary of State Marco Rubio, also in the mix, and their supposed close friendship could either smooth tensions or create awkwardness in Trump’s cabinet. If Vance pursues this openly, it might strain dynamics, especially if Rubio sees it as a challenge to his own aspirations, though their personal rapport could mitigate overt conflict. A lot will hinge on Trump’s future endorsement and how each navigates loyalty versus self-interest in the coming years.”
What Happens Next
With no official declarations yet, further polling at both national and state levels will be conducted ahead of the 2026 midterms. Most potential candidates—including Vance, Newsom and Buttigieg—are expected to clarify their intentions after the midterm cycle.
