Vice President JD Vance delivered a prime-time speech at the Republican midterm convention in Dallas, Texas, on the second day of the event. A recent Catholic convert, Vance cited the Apostle Paul from the New Testament, stating, "if we are His children, then we are also His heirs." He then connected this religious scripture to American ideals, asserting that the nation was founded on the promise that "every American child is born an heir, born with a birthright, born with the right to inherit the blessings of the greatest country on Earth, not because of who their parents are, not because of what they look like or where they come from, but because they are Americans and this is our country."
Vance's speech, which occurred around 9 p.m. ET, was given just before closing remarks from President Trump. The Vice President, who also serves as the Republican National Committee’s finance chair, reportedly raised $2 million for the party earlier that day at a Dallas fundraiser. Polls suggest Vance is a comfortable front-runner for the 2028 Republican primary, with one New York Times composite poll showing him at 43%, significantly ahead of Secretary of State Marco Rubio at 21% and Senator Ted Cruz at 4%. Trump has not explicitly endorsed Vance as his successor, but has praised both Cruz and War Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Excerpts from Vance's speech released prior to the event revealed his focus on family and the future generation. He referenced the late Charlie Kirk's advice to young men about the importance of family, and spoke about his newborn son, Alec, and his "birthright as one of our newest Americans." Vance also took a strong stance against "radicals," stating, "To the radicals who wish to abolish my family or any other, we say: Stay the hell away from my kids." He expressed a desire for his son to grow up with "clean water and real food" and in a country where "doctors answer to parents and the Hippocratic oath, not far-left bureaucrats."
The address intensified speculation about Vance's 2028 presidential aspirations, despite his public demurral. The speech is seen as an opportunity for him to solidify his position as the leading heir to Trump's populist brand of conservatism. However, he also faces the immediate challenge of galvanizing support for the upcoming midterm elections, with Republicans facing concerns about Trump's sagging approval numbers, a prolonged Iran war, and voter apathy, which could lead to Democrats regaining control of Congress. Convention delegates, like Denise McAllister Randall, emphasized the importance of Vance focusing on the president's agenda and current challenges rather than his future ambitions.
