US Vice President JD Vance has said he may decide against running for president in 2028, pointing to his family responsibilities and his wife's reservations about political life. His comments come as opinion polls suggest growing dissatisfaction with President Donald Trump's administration ahead of the November 3 midterm elections.
Speaking at a CBS News town hall on Saturday, October 17, Vance acknowledged that he might not seek the Republican nomination to succeed Trump.
“Of course there's a chance,” Vance said when asked whether he would run. He noted that he and his wife have four young children and that, while she supports public service, she has never been particularly fond of politics.
Vance said he would wait until after the midterm elections before considering his political future. Describing himself as someone who puts off major decisions, he said his wife would readily agree that he was a procrastinator who disliked having to think about big life choices.
Polls point to dissatisfaction with Trump's administration
Vance's remarks come amid signs of public unease over the direction of the country under Trump. An NBC News poll found that 71% of adults surveyed believed the US was on the “wrong track”.
The survey also found that only 28% believed Trump's policies were helping the country, while 58% said they were hurting it. Another 14% felt the policies were making no difference.
A separate poll cited by the Daily Mail found that 55% of voters would back Democrats if congressional elections were held at the time of the survey.
The November 3 midterm elections will determine control of Congress for the remainder of Trump's term. Democrats are hoping to make substantial gains in both chambers, a result that could complicate the administration's legislative agenda.
Republicans currently hold 53 seats in the Senate, compared with 47 held by Democrats. Of the 35 Senate seats being contested, 22 are held by Republicans. Democrats need a net gain of four seats to secure a majority, as Vance would cast the deciding vote in a 50-50 Senate.
Vance remains a leading potential Republican candidate
Despite declining to commit to a presidential campaign, Vance remains one of the leading potential contenders for the Republican nomination in 2028. Florida Senator Marco Rubio is also among the names being discussed as a possible candidate.
Vance has repeatedly said he is not ready to make a decision, stressing that his immediate priority is helping Republicans perform well in the midterm elections.
His comments also come amid speculation over possible rivals within the Republican Party. In an interview with NBC News on October 1, Vance appeared to take a swipe at Senator Ted Cruz, another potential contender for the 2028 nomination.
“It is really obvious to me that, at this very moment, Ted Cruz is running for president,” Vance said, adding that he was not doing so and was instead focused on helping Republicans win elections.
Cruz, whose Senate term runs until 2030, has been campaigning in key states to raise funds for Republican candidates ahead of the midterms.
Vance's latest remarks leave his presidential ambitions unresolved, with the vice president indicating that family considerations and the outcome of the midterm elections will precede any decision on whether to seek the Republican nomination.