Vance, Cruz, head to Iowa on 2026 missions as 2028 GOP race to succeed Trump heats up

Fox News ^ | May 1, 2026 | Paul Steinhauser

[MinorityRepublican]

Two of the biggest names in the Republican Party are making stops the next few days in Iowa, a key 2026 midterm battleground state whose caucuses, for a half century, have kicked off the GOP's presidential nominating calendar.

Vice President JD Vance and Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas will have the midterms on their minds during their visits, which come with just over six months to go until this year's elections, when Republicans will be defending their slim Senate and razor-thin House majorities.

But the moment the midterms are over, the next presidential race officially gets underway. So the trips by Vance and Cruz may also pay dividends if either move forward and launch 2028 White House runs in the race to succeed term-limited President Donald Trump.

[DIRTYSECRET]

Cruz had his chance and blew it with the vote your conscience quote.

Never fall in love with a politician. You’ll get disappionted every time.

[usafa92]

Ted is really not going to try this again is he?

[bobcat62]

If Lil’ Marco is about to become El Leader Maximo of Cuber, maybe this makes sense.
Lyin’ Ted, again?

[chickenlips]

No thanks to both.

[bobcat62]

Ted blew it when he put Carly on the ticket.

[ClearCase_guy]

It’s either Vance or Rubio. Cruz is a loser.

[MinorityRepublican]

Ted is really not going to try this again is he?

Yes he will.

[Flaming Conservative]

Cruz sb on the Supreme Court. And DeSantis. Marco needs to remain SOC; he’s doing an amazing job! I’d certainly vote for him or Vance for President, though.

[Arkady]

Please G*d no! Rubio every day over vance and cruz is even worse than desantis

[DIRTYSECRET]

Please be aware that it’s Trump that made Marco a better republican by teaching him to stand up to the snarky naysayers in congress as well as the low-lifes in the media. JD learned too. DeSantis has been thru it all more and won a couple big state elections as an executive.

Saw Gavin on Maher today. What a slime ball. The book he’s peddling is a ‘love letter’ to all the single moms out there. Same trick BJ used and it’s smart. We can only hope women wise up but you can’t count on it. For that reason I’d prefer DeSantis go up and expose him like he did on Hannity.

[Dr. Sivana]

Ted blew it when he put Carly on the ticket.

They said that about Reagan in 1976 when he put Schweikert on the ticket to try to peel off some PA delegates.

Cruz still runs like it is 2012. His re-Xing an anti-Catholic diatribe with a positive comment sure soured me on him.

[MinorityRepublican]

Please be aware that it’s Trump that made Marco a better republican by teaching him to stand up to the snarky naysayers in congress as well as the low-lifes in the media. JD learned too. DeSantis has been thru it all more and won a couple big state elections as an executive.

Before Trump...

[Governor Dinwiddie]

No, the bloom is gone off of Cruz.

Rubio before Cruz.

[Governor Dinwiddie]

That picture sends a cold chill up my spine. **SHUDDER**.

[DIRTYSECRET]

Could be worse. 2016-remember Jeb!

[dfwgator]

Ugly times.

[dfwgator]

[dfwgator]

Rubio/Gabbard would be a great team.

[Wallace T.]

If the Iran war ends in an American victory and if it ends soon, with energy prices dropping to prewar levels, the GOP will be able to survive the midterms. However, with a prolonged war and continued high prices not only for energy but also for food, due to higher energy and fertilizer prices for farmers and ranchers, and for merchandise due to higher freight costs, there will be a blue wave not seen since 1932 or 2006.

I am not disputing the need to stop the mullahs in Iran. However, the likelihood is that President Trump has a narrow window to destroy the Iranian regime.