Vice President Vance delivered a rousing keynote address at the Republican National Committee’s Dallas convention, igniting fresh speculation about his prospects as a 2028 presidential contender.
The Thursday night speech was interrupted at one point by chants of “48” from the crowd, underscoring the enthusiasm many Republican base voters feel toward Vance as a future standard-bearer.
Vance played down the 2028 chatter in characteristic fashion, telling the crowd: “We got to take care of business this November. Then we’ll worry about what comes next.”
Widely regarded as the MAGA movement’s heir apparent, Vance has been deliberately measured about discussing his future ambitions as the party focuses on winning the midterm elections.
Convention attendees were nonetheless eager to express their 2028 preferences, with Texas delegate Kim Simmons declaring “Team Vance right here” immediately after the vice president left the stage.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio is also seen as a top contender for 2028, though he was not present at the Dallas convention, making Vance the dominant figure drawing that speculation on the ground.
Vance won a 2028 straw poll at the Conservative Political Action Conference earlier this year, with Rubio finishing in second place behind him.
An Emerson College and The Hill survey released last month showed Rubio outperforming Vance in five hypothetical match-ups against Democratic opponents, with the sole exception being former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who held a five-point edge against both Republicans.
During his keynote, Vance sought to draw a sharp contrast between the Republican and Democratic agendas by highlighting what he described as the accomplishments of the Trump administration.
President Trump himself closed out the two-day event after Vance’s speech, with RNC Chair Joe Gruters having described the convention as a “Trump-a-palooza” ahead of the gathering.
The first-ever GOP midterm convention featured more than 100 programming items, including candidate showcases in key swing districts, sessions on banning lawmakers from trading stocks, and discussions on federal immigration enforcement.
Day Two of the convention leaned heavily on the president’s inner circle, with Donald Trump Jr., former press secretary Karoline Leavitt, and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. all taking the stage.
Additional prominent speakers included House Speaker Mike Johnson, Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who is currently seeking reelection to his statehouse post.
The convention’s agenda also included a tribute to slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk, marking the one-year anniversary of his death.
