Cruz and Vance Dispute Whether He Is Running for 2028

Sen. Ted Cruz and Vice President JD Vance disputed whether Cruz is already pursuing a 2028 presidential campaign, with Vance saying he believes Cruz is running and Cruz rejecting that characterization while saying his focus is the 2026 midterm elections. Vance made his assessment in an NBC News interview on Thursday, saying it was obvious to him that Cruz was running for president “at this very moment.” Vance added that he was focused on helping elect Republicans rather than on the 2028 race. Cruz responded in an interview Saturday, calling Vance’s remarks “political bombthrowing” and saying he would keep working to help Republicans win the midterms. He said he was focused on the approaching election, not a presidential bid. The exchange leaves their differing accounts of Cruz’s intentions unresolved; the statements reported do not establish whether he is taking concrete steps toward a campaign. Cruz has, however, previously left open a role in the next presidential contest. In an August interview, he said he would “certainly be part of the discussion” about 2028 and indicated that he did not consider the Republican nomination settled.