Pence Leaves Open Possibility of 2028 Presidential Run

Former Vice President Mike Pence has left open the possibility of seeking the Republican presidential nomination in 2028, saying he has heard encouragement from people around the country but has made no decision and set no timeline.

In an interview released after the 2026 midterm elections, Pence said the outreach had humbled him. He did not identify the people who contacted him or describe how many there were. His comments differed from a statement he made in September, when he said he had no plans to run for president or any other elected office in 2028.

Pence said he is focused on advocating what he calls the Republican Party’s traditional conservative principles, rather than deciding who should lead its next presidential ticket. He said Republicans should determine what they stand for before choosing a nominee, and listed strong national defense, limited government, fiscal responsibility and the right to life as priorities.

He attributed the party’s midterm losses in part to its movement away from those principles. Pence said the election showed voters had rejected what he described as the current version of Republicanism. That was his assessment of the results; the interview...