Several prominent Republicans are exploring potential presidential campaigns for 2028, setting up a possible challenge to Vice President JD Vance as the party confronts the political fallout from its November midterm losses.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has increased his media appearances as he considers another presidential run, while Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp is weighing a bid. Texas Sen. Ted Cruz is also preparing for a possible campaign and has discussed working with longtime political consultant Jeff Roe of Axiom Strategies, according to people familiar with their plans, The Washington Post reported.
The developments suggest that some Republicans are preparing for a competitive primary rather than automatically clearing the field for Vance, who has emerged as a leading potential successor to Donald Trump.
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Vance has not announced whether he will run in 2028. However, he has begun distinguishing himself from Trump on issues including the war with Iran and the economy. His allies say establishing an independent political identity will be important as he considers a presidential campaign.
Despite Republican losses in the midterms, Vance’s political operation continues to prepare for a possible run. The Rockbridge Network, a political donor and advocacy group he co-founded, held a previously scheduled meeting in Texas over the weekend. Vance did not attend, but his political future was among the subjects discussed, according to people familiar with the gathering.
Potential Challengers Begin Positioning
DeSantis remains one of the most recognizable potential challengers. His 2024 presidential campaign ended after he finished behind Trump in the Iowa caucuses and withdrew before the New Hampshire primary.
According to The Washington Post, DeSantis has not established campaign infrastructure or begun meeting with donors. If he runs, he is expected to continue working with pollster Ryan Tyson.
The Florida governor has also started emphasizing positions that could distinguish him from other Republicans, including opposition to the Iran war and calls for stricter limits on data center development and artificial intelligence companies. DeSantis said on social media that he had not contacted anyone about running for office.
Kemp could offer a different approach. The Georgia governor has repeatedly clashed with Trump and defeated a Trump-backed primary challenger by more than 50 percentage points in 2022.
Kemp passed on a 2026 Senate campaign despite encouragement from Republican leaders. He is reportedly considering both a presidential campaign and a Senate bid in 2028. His recent appearances in South Carolina, an early presidential nominating state, have also drawn attention.
Cruz has been positioning himself around foreign policy, particularly support for Israel. His reported discussions with Roe suggest he is considering the organizational groundwork necessary for a presidential campaign. Cruz and Vance have also exchanged public criticism in recent months.
Rubio, Pence And Other Republicans Remain In The Mix
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has attracted interest from donors who want him to enter the 2028 race. However, he has privately indicated limited interest in running and has said he would support Vance if the vice president becomes a candidate, according to the Post.
Tulsi Gabbard, Trump’s former director of national intelligence, is reportedly interested in working with Vance rather than pursuing her own campaign if he runs.
Other potential contenders include Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, former Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, Florida Sen. Rick Scott, Louisiana Sen. John Kennedy and former Vice President Mike Pence.
Sanders has experience campaigning in early primary states through her father’s presidential campaigns. Her campaign manager, Jordan Powell, said she looks forward to serving Arkansas for another four years.
Youngkin has maintained some distance from Trump despite appearing alongside him during the 2024 presidential campaign. Pence, meanwhile, has been building a policy organization focused on traditional conservative principles, including limited government and fiscal conservatism.
Republicans Debate What Comes After Trump
The potential primary is about more than selecting Trump’s successor. Republicans are also confronting disagreements over the policies and political coalition that should define the party.
Alex Bruesewitz, a Trump adviser who helped develop the campaign’s 2024 social media strategy, warned that a nominee who does not connect with Trump’s populist movement could lose support from a significant portion of the Republican base.
He specifically criticized the possibility of Cruz becoming the nominee, saying millions of Trump voters could refuse to support the party under that scenario.
Other Republicans see an opportunity to return to traditional conservative positions. Tim Chapman, president of Pence’s policy organization, Advancing American Freedom, argued that voters want a limited-government party with economic policies that address their concerns.
Foreign policy could become another dividing line. Support for Israel, U.S. involvement in overseas conflicts and military spending have become subjects of disagreement within the Republican coalition. Trump’s tariffs have also drawn criticism from Republicans who traditionally favor free-market economic policies.
A strategist working with a potential Republican candidate told The Washington Post that the traditional divisions between MAGA Republicans and anti-Trump conservatives may not define the 2028 primary. The election results have created uncertainty about which political positions and voter groups will shape the contest.
Serious candidates are expected to begin entering the race between January and April 2027, according to the strategist.
For now, Vance has not formally declared his candidacy, and none of the potential challengers has launched a presidential campaign. The coming months will show whether Republicans rally behind Trump’s vice president or pursue a competitive primary to determine who leads the party into the next presidential election.
