Incoming VP J.D. Vance has a bright future. But all that could change in an instant.
That’s why J.D. Vance was taken aback by this surprising replacement news.
The Republican Party is very similar to the Democrat Party in that they will absolutely try to play the role of a puppet-master during an election season to make sure their establishment picks get to the general election season, especially when it comes to the most important races like the race for the White House and for U.S. Senate seats. This is how the political establishment has worked for decades now.
The Democrats did this in 2016 when they very clearly did everything they could to prevent Bernie Sanders from sniffing the Democrat Party nomination for President, instead protecting their establishment baby in Hillary Clinton. The Republicans also did this in 2008 and 2012 by pushing the envelope for both McCain and Romney in those respective election years.
Donald Trump’s movement was too big for the Republican Party to deal with, though. He was not what the GOP establishment heads wanted, but it’s what they got. Donald Trump took the whole Republican Party base by storm and there was nothing they could do about it. The question is what happens after Donald Trump. What happens in 2028 when Trump will not be in the picture anymore?
Many assume that the young buck J.D. Vance will be a clear candidate to turn to in 2028, but the Republican Party is reportedly skeptical about that. They are already signaling that they might try to turn away from the Trump years by pushing for someone else, anyone else, other than J.D. Vance who is clearly a part of the Trump crew now that he will be his Vice President.
GOP Eyes a Path for a More Establishment Candidate in 2028 as JD Vance Gears Up for a Run
As the Republican Party looks toward the 2028 presidential election, the race is already taking shape, with Vice President-elect JD Vance emerging as a likely front-runner. However, the GOP is being careful not to fully close the door on a potential shift away from the hard-right, America First movement that has defined much of its recent trajectory. With former President Donald Trump out of the running due to term limits, many see Vance as the natural successor to Trump’s political legacy. But the party’s leadership seems cautious, signaling that they are leaving room for a more establishment-friendly candidate to emerge as the 2028 race heats up.
The Republican National Committee (RNC) has consistently maintained its tradition of neutrality during presidential primaries. Michael Whatley, the chair of the RNC, emphasized this position in a recent interview with Fox News Digital, reaffirming that the party will not endorse any one candidate ahead of the primaries. “We will,” Whatley said when asked about the RNC’s stance on neutrality, stressing the committee’s commitment to allowing a fair, open contest.
Despite Vance’s rise as the presumptive successor to Trump’s America First movement, the Republican leadership is clearly trying to keep the door open for other potential candidates, particularly those who align more closely with the traditional, establishment wing of the party. While Vance is expected to dominate in the primaries, given his ties to Trump and the MAGA base, the RNC appears to be hedging its bets. “We are getting four more years of Trump and then eight years of JD Vance,” Donald Trump Jr. proclaimed during the campaign trail in October, framing Vance’s potential candidacy as a clear continuation of Trump’s political ideology.
However, even with Trump’s endorsement, some within the party’s ranks are hoping for a more moderate alternative to emerge, someone who can appeal to a broader coalition within the GOP. According to Dave Carney, a long-time Republican strategist, Vance will undoubtedly be a dominant force in the race, but the GOP could still see a challenge from more establishment figures. “The vice president will be in the catbird seat. No question about it,” Carney told Fox News Digital. “Vance is the guy to beat.” Carney’s comments demonstrate the current strength of Vance’s position, but also acknowledge that the race is far from over and that the possibility of an establishment challenger remains alive.
MITT ROMNEY SHOWS SOME ACTUAL GRACE TODAY ON CNN.
'JD Vance will be the 2028 nominee.'
'Trump deserves legitimate credit for expanding the party.'
'Republican party is now MAGA, no question.'pic.twitter.com/gcYsDkI9HN
— Citizen Free Press (@CitizenFreePres) December 16, 2024
Top GOP Operatives Looking For Way Out Of JD Vance Nomination?
David Kochel, another veteran GOP strategist, agreed that Vance is currently the front-runner, given Trump’s massive victories in the 2024 elections, which have bolstered the America First movement’s influence. However, Kochel also noted that the GOP primary will likely remain fluid, with establishment voices in the party not fully deferring to Vance’s candidacy. “Nobody will completely defer to JD Vance. There will be a contest. There always is,” Kochel said. His comments reflect the belief that, despite Vance’s dominance, the GOP establishment will be keen to explore other options before fully backing the vice president-elect.
RNC chair Michael Whatley, interviewed shortly after Trump requested he stay on as RNC chair, expressed optimism about the party’s future, citing a deep bench of potential candidates within the party. “You think about all the Republican governors, you think about all the Republican senators, the members of the House that we have, the leaders across the country that have been engaged in this campaign are going to be part of the president’s cabinet,” Whatley said, pointing to the strength and diversity of the GOP leadership. This emphasis on the party’s wide pool of talent suggests that the RNC is keeping its options open and may be hoping for a more centrist candidate to step forward as an alternative to Vance.
Whatley also stressed the continued influence of Trump’s America First movement, though he framed it as a broader force that transcends any one individual. “Donald Trump has completely remade the Republican Party,” Whatley stated. “We’re now the working-class party. We’re now a party that is communicating and working with every single voter, speaking to every single voter about the issues that they care about.” While this marks a clear endorsement of Trump’s agenda, Whatley also left room for future adaptation. The RNC’s rhetoric hints that while the party will continue to build on Trump’s successes, it is not necessarily bound to the specific path laid out by Vance or the more populist wing of the GOP.
In contrast to the Democratic National Committee, which recently made major changes to its presidential nominating calendar for 2024, the RNC has kept its traditional primary structure intact. The Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primary will remain the first two contests in the GOP race. Whatley, when asked about the 2028 calendar, reaffirmed the party’s comfort with the existing schedule, stating, “We’re very comfortable with the calendar as it is. But as we move towards 2028, we’ll have those conversations.” This stance reflects the RNC’s cautious approach to the primaries and its desire to maintain flexibility as the party contemplates its future leadership.
While Vance’s candidacy is expected to be the most prominent in the 2028 race, the RNC’s strategic messaging suggests that party leaders are not fully ready to hand over the reins to the MAGA wing of the GOP without further consideration. As the race unfolds, the GOP may seek to navigate a delicate balance between preserving Trump’s influence and encouraging a more moderate candidate who can unite the party’s traditional and populist factions. The 2028 Republican nomination battle is still in its early stages, but the GOP’s careful positioning signals that the door is far from closed to other potential challengers.
Stay tuned to the DC Daily Journal.
