7 Senate Seats Lost: Vance Allies Question 2028 Bid

Vice President JD Vance is privately debating whether to seek the presidency in 2028 after Democrats captured seven Republican Senate seats on Tuesday. A Wall Street Journal report on Saturday cited six people close to the vice president, who said he has not yet decided to run.

The losses included Vance's former seat in Ohio. Democrats also won governorships in Georgia and Texas. Within 24 hours of the vote, a veteran New York fundraiser reported that major donors questioned supporting Vance. Those donors suggested Florida Governor Ron DeSantis as a potential alternative candidate.

Vance published a long essay on social media this week. He blamed the Iran war for the party's defeat. He argued that Republicans must change their relationship with Israel. Donald Trump Jr. publicly endorsed the essay. Washington Republicans widely interpreted the piece as a move to distance Vance from unpopular policies. People close to Vance told the Journal that the results rejected the war rather than Trump. They predicted the president's coalition could rebuild once the conflict ends.

Text messages from January show Vance urged Trump to maintain diplomacy during the military operation. Vance gathered polling data on the risks of war. The data showed the public split 44% to 43% on going to war. Additionally, 62% of respondents said fewer than 100 US combat deaths were acceptable. A majority of 65% said Trump should seek congressional approval first. Trump told the Journal he has not second guessed the decision. "I did the right thing," Trump said on election night. "I would have done it again."

Vance faces criticism for his campaign tactics. He called Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed "a little weasel who should shut his mouth." El-Sayed went on to win the seat. Despite the doubts, Vance holds advantages over rivals. He has high name recognition and leads in primary polling. He also serves as finance chair of the Republican National Committee, which keeps him in regular contact with major donors.

Two people close to Vance suggested he run for his old Ohio Senate seat or for governor. He rejected both ideas. Trump has not endorsed a successor. "Maybe he won't run," Trump said of Vance on Wednesday. "I don't know who's going to run." Vance acknowledged at a CBS News town hall in October that "there's a chance" he never runs.