Vance and Cruz set to clash on GOP stage ahead of 2028 race
JD Vance will keynote the Republican midterm convention in Dallas, followed by Senator Ted Cruz, signaling early signs of a 2028 presidential rivalry within the party.
The Republican midterm convention in Dallas will close with Vice President JD Vance delivering the keynote address, followed immediately by Senator Ted Cruz. Their consecutive appearances offer a preview of a possible 2028 presidential showdown, pitting Vance’s populist, Trump-aligned brand against Cruz’s fiscally conservative, anti-antisemitism platform. While Vance enjoys a sizable lead in composite polls, Cruz is positioning himself as a challenger to the notion of Vance as the presumptive nominee.
Party figures such as Jim Jordan anticipate Cruz’s 2028 run, and Trump has praised both men without endorsing either. The speeches also aim to rally supporters amid concerns about Trump’s waning approval, the ongoing Iran conflict, and voter apathy that could affect the upcoming midterms. Outcomes of the convention could shape the GOP’s strategy and unity heading into the 2028 election cycle.
Why it matters
The speeches reveal early positioning of GOP leaders for the 2028 presidential race and the party's direction after Trump.
How this story developed
- Aug 15 Trump aides say president reluctant to campaign for down-ballot Republicans
- Sep 8 Networks have scaled back live coverage of the convention to prioritize NFL opening‑weekend games.
- Sep 8 Republican strategists are distributing free tickets via unsolicited texts and a lottery to fill the venue.
- Sep 9 Organizers offered five‑figure tickets and hosted multiple donor events during the convention week.
- Sep 9 Texas Democrats adopt divergent tactics, with Tarrant County opting out of press events and Dallas County organizing a rally.
- Sep 9 Republican operatives voiced concerns that the convention’s timing clashes with the NFL opening weekend, limiting viewership.
- Sep 9 Illinois Governor JB Pritzker warned that any Republican attending the GOP midterm convention and praising Donald Trump is ineligible for a 2028 presidential run.
- Sep 9 Donald Trump said the war with Iran will end immediately after the November midterm elections, arguing Tehran cannot sustain its campaign.
- Sep 9 Donors were offered a $88,600 photo opportunity with Trump and ticket packages from $5,000 to $20,000, with a $25,000 fee for House members.
- Sep 10 Pritzker warned that Republicans praising Trump at the GOP midterm convention could be barred from the 2028 presidential ballot.
- Sep 10 Major broadcasters are limiting live coverage of the convention due to a clash with NFL opening‑weekend games.
- Sep 10 Trump boosted Michael Whatley, the former RNC chair and GOP Senate nominee in North Carolina, and said Governor Roy Cooper did nothing to help after Hurricane Helene.
- Sep 10 $49 million was earmarked by the No Going Back PAC for six Senate and one House races.
- Sep 10 Projectiles struck Iran's Sirik coast, causing multiple blasts in Minab County and on Qeshm Island.
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