WASHINGTON — Texas Senator Ted Cruz pushed back against Vice President JD Vance’s suggestion that Cruz is already looking towards a presidential run in 2028, labeling him as “insecure.”
Last week, Vance, who is considered a leading contender for the 2028 nomination, criticized Cruz (R-Texas) by implying that the senator was prioritizing future elections over the imminent midterms.
“From what I’ve seen, people tend to resort to political jabs when they’re feeling insecure,” Cruz remarked during an interview with Politico on Saturday.
“He’s free to say whatever he wants,” Cruz, 55, added.
“My focus remains on the midterms, and I’m committed to helping us secure victories on Election Day in the next 30 days.”
Cruz had previously been a runner-up in the 2016 presidential race against Donald Trump, which was quite contentious.
In August, Cruz indicated to MS NOW that he would “definitely be part of the discussion” for the 2028 election, suggesting that Vance did not have the nomination locked down.
“It’s pretty clear to me that, right now, Ted Cruz is running for president,” Vance replied to Cruz’s comments in an NBC News interview.
“At this stage, I’m not. My focus is on helping to elect Republicans, and that’s what I intend to keep doing.”
For many in the Republican party, the 2028 election presents a chance to reshape the GOP after Trump’s tenure. Traditionalists, like Cruz, advocate for a return to the party’s foundational principles of free markets and fiscal responsibility.
On the other hand, MAGA Republicans are pushing for the party to maintain a populist course and focus on avoiding foreign conflicts.
Cruz, who has previously reflected on his 2016 campaign, has already started engaging in debates regarding the future direction of the GOP, having had a heated conversation with Tucker Carlson, a well-known podcaster, last June.
Carlson and Vance have maintained a friendly relationship, although Vance has acknowledged some recent ideological differences with Carlson, especially regarding Trump.
The senator touted his contributions to Republican campaigns leading up to the midterm elections on November 3, particularly emphasizing the competitive Senate race in Texas.
“Over the last decade, I can confidently say that no Republican has supported more Senate, House, or gubernatorial candidates than I have, and this year will prove no different,” Cruz assured Politico.
“In fact, it’s somewhat ironic that I spent an entire day campaigning alongside JD Vance when he was running for the Senate in Ohio [in 2022]. I was genuinely pleased he won that race and happy to assist him.”
The Post reached out to Vance’s team for a response.
