Vice President JD Vance said during a CBS News town hall on Oct. 18 that there is “a chance” he won’t run for president in 2028, pointing to his young family as a major factor in that thinking.
When CBS Evening News anchor Tony Dokoupil asked Vance directly whether there’s any chance he won’t run, the vice president didn’t hesitate. “Of course there’s a chance,” he said. Man, we’ve got four little kids,” he added, noting that his wife, second lady Usha Vance, “has never loved politics.”
Vance softened the remark slightly, saying Usha does embrace public service. “She loves public service,” he said. “I think you know you can do a lot of good in this job, and I’ve tried to do as much good as possible.” Despite polls showing him as a frontrunner for the Republican nomination, Vance said most people are wrong to assume his mind is made up.
“The way that I think about life, big life decisions, my wife will tell you this, is I’m a procrastinator. I hate thinking about it,” Vance said. He hinted he’ll give the question more serious thought after the November midterm elections, saying his current focus is to “elect as many good candidates as possible.
The Vances became parents to a fourth child when their son Alec Neel Vance was born on July 19 at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. “We are excited to announce that our baby boy, Alec Neel Vance, was born this morning,” the family said in a statement at the time. “Usha and the baby are happy and healthy, and our kids are overjoyed to meet their little brother.” Alec joins siblings Ewan, 9, Vivek, 6, and Mirabel, 4.
Even with the hesitation, polling puts Vance well ahead of the Republican field. A Focaldata/Financial Times poll released Oct. 11 showed him pulling 38% support among Republican respondents in a hypothetical 2028 primary. Secretary of State Marco Rubio came in second at 24%, with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis at 9%. According to the CBS News town hall with Vance, Vance declined to commit either way when pressed on his intentions.
Usha Vance has said she’s keeping an open mind. In an Aug. 26 interview on Fox News‘ “Fox and Friends,” she told host Rachel Campos-Duffy the family is taking it “one step at a time.” “Whatever it is that he feels is the right thing for him to do, we’re going to have a good time doing it,” she said.
Vance is expected to revisit the question publicly once the Nov. 3 midterm elections are behind him. Share your thoughts on whether you think Vance will ultimately make the 2028 race, in the comments below or on social media.
