Vice President JD Vance Reveals “There’s A Chance” He Won’t Run for President — Here’s Why

Vice President JD Vance said there’s “of course” a chance he won’t run for president in 2028, pointing to his four young children and his wife’s feelings about politics. Vance said he plans to make a decision after the midterm elections. pic.twitter.com/O9bho2LPl0

— CBS News (@CBSNews) October 18, 2026

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His comments come as the vice president is widely viewed as an early frontrunner to succeed Trump, who has described Vance as his “most likely” Republican successor.

The RealClear Polling average gives him a 15-point advantage over Secretary of State Marco Rubio in the Republican primary, with 39% support more than two years out from the 2028 election. President Trump’s son, Donald Jr., is third with 11% support.

But the prospect of another presidential campaign would mean an even bigger role in politics for second lady Usha Vance, who has previously acknowledged that she and her husband do not always agree on political issues.

In a March interview with NBC News, Usha said she sometimes holds views that do not fit neatly within traditional political camps.

“Sometimes I have thoughts that fit very comfortably into one side or another,” she said. “Sometimes I have views that are way more idiosyncratic.”

She also made clear that she sees herself as a sounding board for her husband rather than a political operative.

“I’m not his staffer. I’m not involved in this in any professional sense,” Usha said, adding that there is “no exception that we are going to see eye to eye on everything.”

The couple’s family has also grown in recent months. Their youngest child, son Alec was born July 19, joining siblings Ewan, 9, Vivek, 6, and Mirabel, 4.

Usha said in March that a 2028 presidential campaign was not yet a priority in their household, explaining that her husband was focused on the midterm elections and the demands of his current job.

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