Sen. Ted Cruz 2028 speculation intensified over the weekend after the Texas Republican fired back at Vice President JD Vance, who suggested Cruz is already running for president. Cruz said Vance’s remarks reflect insecurity and insisted his focus remains on the November midterms.
“In my experience, people engage in political bomb-throwing when they’re feeling insecure,” Cruz said in a Saturday phone interview, responding to Vance’s claim in an NBC News interview that it was “really obvious” Cruz is running now. Cruz added that he would keep concentrating on the next 30 days to help Republicans win on Election Day.
Ted Cruz 2028 chatter meets midterm push
Vance aired his accusation in an NBC News interview Thursday, saying, “It is really obvious to me that, at this very moment, Ted Cruz is running for president. At this moment, I’m not. I’m trying to help elect Republicans.”
Vance is widely seen as a potential contender for the 2028 Republican presidential nomination. Cruz, who sought the GOP nod in 2016, has not ruled out another White House bid, saying in August that he would “certainly be part of the discussion.”
Cruz said Saturday he is focused on helping Republicans hold the House and Senate in November, noting recent and planned campaign stops on behalf of GOP candidates in Georgia, Iowa, Nebraska, South Carolina and Ohio, with additional travel expected to Alaska, Florida, North Carolina and South Carolina this month.
“Over the last 10 years, there’s no Republican in the country who has campaigned for more Senate candidates, more House candidates, more gubernatorial candidates than I have, and this year will be no exception,” he said. Cruz also pointed out that he spent a full day on the trail with Vance during Vance’s successful 2022 Ohio Senate run and said he was glad to help.
Vance has been on the road as well, appearing in Texas and Florida last week to boost GOP candidates and planning a rally in Alaska on Monday. His travels come as Republicans weigh how midterm elections and economy pressures may collide heading into November.
