Ted Cruz eyes White House run in 2028 — says GOP won’t simply hand nomination to J.D. Vance
Sen. Ted Cruz has indicated he is considering another presidential campaign in 2028 and does not believe the GOP will automatically nominate Vice President J.D. Vance as President Donald Trump’s successor.
Cruz keeps presidential ambitions alive
Cruz, a Texas Republican who sought the White House in 2016, addressed his political future on Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s “Lt. Dan” podcast, stating, “It’s no secret that I want to be president.”
When asked if he plans to run again, Cruz replied, “Time will tell.”
Cruz described presidential ambition as something that can remain with politicians for longer than one might anticipate, saying, “I will say, this is a bug that history has proved is rarely ended… It is a permanent and often fatal bug.”
Cruz has rejected an automatic Vance succession
Cruz’s comments reinforce his earlier suggestion that the Republican nomination for 2028 should not be treated as settled. In an August 24 interview with MS NOW host Ali Vitali, he rejected the idea that the GOP has already selected Vance as its next nominee.
“Oh, no – there is going to be a full discussion about who we are and what we believe… I’ll certainly be part of the discussion,” Cruz said, positioning himself as an active participant in shaping the party’s direction ahead of the next presidential race.
Cruz calls for a foreign policy debate
Cruz emphasized the need for Republicans to thoroughly discuss the party’s foreign policy stance before 2028, questioning whether the GOP should be “an isolationist party that withdraws from the world or do we believe in American leadership.”
He added that Republicans must also decide whether to prioritize being “a small-government, free-market conservative party” or a “big-government, nanny-state party.”
Vance is favored, but competition remains
The vice president, who has often expressed skepticism about foreign military intervention, is widely seen as the Republican frontrunner for 2028. However, Vance has stated he will not decide on a presidential run until after the midterm elections.
Meanwhile, Trump has identified Secretary of State Marco Rubio as a potential candidate for the GOP’s 2028 presidential ticket. Ron DeSantis, whose term as Florida governor ends in January, is reportedly considering another campaign for office.