Vice President JD Vance delivered a rousing keynote address at the Republican National Committee’s Dallas convention, fueling growing speculation about his 2028 presidential prospects.
The Thursday night speech was interrupted at one point by chants of “48,” signaling that many in the GOP base are already looking beyond the upcoming midterms.
Vance used the moment to charm a crowd that will prove critical to any future White House bid, presenting himself as the natural heir to the MAGA movement.
When the crowd’s 2028 enthusiasm became impossible to ignore, Vance responded directly, saying “We got to take care of business this November. Then we’ll worry about what comes next.”
The vice president has played coy about his future plans, as Republican leadership works to steer the party’s focus toward winning the midterm elections first.
Attendees at the Dallas convention were quick to signal where their loyalties lie when the next presidential race eventually arrives on the horizon.
“Team Vance right here,” said Kim Simmons, an attendee from Texas, when asked about 2028 following the vice president’s speech.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio is also considered a top-tier contender for 2028, though he was not present at the convention, and his absence did little to dampen interest in his potential candidacy.
Vance previously won a 2028 straw poll at the Conservative Political Action Conference earlier this year, finishing ahead of Rubio in that informal measure of grassroots support.
An Emerson College/The Hill survey released last month showed Rubio outperforming Vance in five hypothetical matchups against Democrats, complicating the notion that Vance is the unquestioned frontrunner.
The one exception in that polling was former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who held a 5-point edge against both Republicans in the survey.
During his keynote, Vance sought to draw a sharp contrast between the two parties by citing what he described as the key accomplishments of the Trump administration.
The RNC’s Dallas gathering marked the committee’s first-ever midterm convention, and organizers opted not to hold a 2028 straw poll, keeping the official focus on near-term electoral goals.
