OAN Staff Katherine Mosack
5:00 PM – Friday, October 2, 2026
In a recent interview, Vice President JD Vance noted that the results of the midterm elections could present “new information” that could affect his decision whether to run for president in 2028, while emphasizing his focus on adamantly campaigning for the Republican Party this year.
Speaking to NBC News on Thursday, Vance also acknowledged the “uphill climb the GOP faces in the midterms,” given that the party in power historically tends to take a hit during midterm election years, but said he has “cautious optimism.”
“Historically there’s always a bit of an uphill climb, and I think you definitely sense that,” Vance said in an interview with NBC News. “I also think you can sense a sense of cautious optimism, in the sense that, you know, people feel like the numbers are sort of moving, maybe in our direction.”
“Politically, there’s just a recognition that it’s always going to be hard to win a midterm when you have the White House, the Senate and the House,” he added.
Vance spoke aboard Air Force Two while returning from a campaign stop in Lakeland, Florida. There, he stumped for U.S. Senator Ashley Moody — who is running in a special election to complete the remainder of Marco Rubio’s term — and Representative Byron Donalds, the Republican nominee seeking to succeed term-limited Governor Ron DeSantis.
Explaining his general strategy while boosting Republican candidates, he said the GOP should “brag about the victories” while reminding voters of the ineffective, poor policies they witnessed under the previous Democrat-run White House. Nonetheless, he reiterated that voters tend to blame the party in power for the country’s current issues and Republicans shouldn’t pretend things are perfect.
“Voters are impatient, right? They ultimately make the decision,” Vance said. “We have to make the argument as best as we can. And what I honestly think is that we inherited a remarkably tough situation. … But I think that our approach is to brag about the victories, talk about the great accomplishments.”
“I think people recognize that the message is starting to penetrate a little bit — that we are solving problems the Democrats created and the Democrats are running a lot of crazy people,” he stated. “I do get a sense that message is penetrating. Obviously, we’re going to find out in about 35 days whether that carries the day.”
Asked about his potential 2028 ambitions, Vance did not commit to a presidential bid, as he has maintained that he would not make any announcements until after the midterm elections, which are his top priority at the moment.
“Right now, I try not to think too much in hypotheticals,” he said. “I’m just going to try to do as well as I can and encourage people to elect the candidates that I think are good. The American people make that decision, and when they do, then yeah, I’ll have some new information to consider.”
Pressed about whether Republican losses would factor into his decision on seeking the presidency, Vance replied, “You make these decisions by collecting as much information and trying to make a wise decision. And yeah, I mean, regardless of what happens over the next 35 days, there will be new information, new things you have to make a decision over.”
He also addressed Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas), who has positioned himself as a potential rival in recent weeks, admitting his ongoing desire for the presidency.
“It is really obvious to me that, at this very moment, Ted Cruz is running for president,” Vance added. “At this moment, I’m not. I’m trying to help elect Republicans. That’s what I’m going to keep on doing.”
Though Cruz is not up for reelection this cycle, he continues to hit the campaign trail to boost GOP candidates in Texas and early presidential primary states like Iowa and South Carolina.
“Senator Cruz has been focused on electing Republicans up and down the ballot this November, and he will continue campaigning vigorously over the next several weeks to help make that happen,” a spokesperson for the senator said in a statement to NBC News.
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