Republicans begin battle for Trump’s political legacy after election defeat

The Republicans’ poor performance in the midterm elections has intensified competition for the party’s 2028 presidential nomination.

According to The Washington Post, TodayPress TV reports that potential rivals of Vice President JD Vance have begun actively preparing for a possible presidential campaign.

According to sources, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has launched a media campaign in recent days as he prepares for a potential presidential bid. Georgia Governor Brian Kemp is considering entering the race. Texas Senator Ted Cruz plans to work with longtime adviser Jeff Roe of Axiom Strategies if he decides to run.

“I think the caucus and presidential process began on Wednesday morning, if not Tuesday night,” said Bob Vander Plaats, a longtime conservative activist from Iowa. He noted that if a politician believes they have a credible case to become a “messenger of the future”, now is the time to make their ambitions known.

Vance has not yet decided whether he will run in 2028. However, last week he was quick to publicly distance himself from Trump’s unpopular war with Iran and the president’s approach to affordability. Allies of the vice president describe this as a key step in preserving his viability as a presidential candidate. Nevertheless, Vance leads in early Republican preference polls and remains the favourite in betting markets for the party’s nomination.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, whom donors are urging to enter the race, has said he intends to support Vance if he decides to run. Former Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, according to a source, would like to work with Vance if he launches a campaign. Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders and former Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin are also being considered as potential contenders.

Earlier, US Vice President JD Vance expressed a desire to unite Republicans dissatisfied with President Donald Trump into a separate alliance. According to the publication, the vice president’s plan is linked to the upcoming 2028 presidential election. It is noted that Vance decided to take the initiative after the Republicans suffered a crushing defeat in the congressional midterm elections. The report also highlights his differences with the White House chief on foreign policy and relations with Israel.