WEATHERTON, Texas — Vice President Vance is using the final days of the midterm campaign to refine a political message that many Republicans see as the foundation of a near-certain 2028 presidential run. While former President Trump dominates the rally circuit with his trademark crowds, Vance is methodically building his own political operation, testing lines and racking up chits with party activists and donors.
“He’s clearly sharpening his campaigning sword and building his IOU pile in preparation for a run,” said Dan Eberhart, a Republican donor. “Vance can’t draw Trump’s crowds, but he is energetic in his verbal knifing of Democrats.”
That energy was on display Thursday at a packed rally in deep-red Weatherton, Texas, where supporters inside a cavernous warehouse were at capacity and overflow crowds watched on a jumbotron outside. Vance leaned into cultural flashpoints, telling the crowd: “I need you to tell James Talarico that this weird obsession with trans kids is not good for the state of Texas, and I need you to send the message to every far-left activist, to everybody who expects Texas to surrender, that in five days Texas is not surrendering a damn thing.” The crowd responded with chants of “JD!”
Vance, who rose to fame with his memoir Hillbilly Elegy, wove his personal story into the pitch, calling himself “a product of the American dream as your vice president.” He added, “Because the American dream was there for me, I want it to be there for you.”
His approach is not without friction. At a Fox News town hall in Texas, Vance was asked how young people could afford to marry and raise families when homeownership is out of reach. Before answering, he joked that he had only been asked one question about Ohio Sen. Jon Husted’s backside — a reference to one of Trump’s recent obsessions. Critics on the left called the quip cringeworthy and out of touch.
Vance also drew rebukes from Democrats and even some Republicans when he defended Vivek Ramaswamy’s controversial attack ad in the Ohio governor’s race. Still, many in the GOP are encouraged by his performance on the homestretch, especially as forecasts suggest a difficult election for the party. One Republican strategist said Vance is “getting in some really good, quality political reps” while helping candidates in critical statewide races.
This week alone, Vance has campaigned in Kansas, Montana, North Carolina, and Texas. He has delivered dozens of speeches since primary season began, while also leading Trump’s fraud task force. On Monday, he returns to Ohio to stump in the contentious gubernatorial and Senate races, then heads to Rome, N.Y., for a House race rated “lean Republican” by the Cook Political Report.
Chris Johnson, an Ohio Republican strategist, said the midterm schedule is less a test than an opportunity. “I grew up with pretty center-right Ohio Republican politics and listening to JD talk radicalized me, and moved me toward this much more nationalist position,” he said.
Vance has publicly insisted he is focused on the midterms, but he does not discourage speculation. In an interview with Mark Halperin on 2WAY earlier this month, he said Trump would likely back him if he ran. Yet the vice presidency comes with constraints. “You’re often limited to whatever the goals of the principal are,” Johnson noted. “But he does have this really unique, compelling voice and story, and so when he’s been getting more leeway like he’s been getting recently to be himself, be authentic, that’s where you’re seeing the real success.”
After the midterms, speculation over 2028 will intensify. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, another potential contender, said last night he has “no plans at this time” to run, though he joined Trump in Texas this week and spoke briefly. Trump has not endorsed a candidate, but has floated the idea of a Vance-Rubio “dream team.” One GOP strategist said, “I think Vance probably gets first crack at it.” But a brutal midterm night could leave the party in disarray two years out from its post-Trump future.
