Following a defeat in the recent midterm elections, allies of Vice President JD Vance are reportedly discouraging him from running in the next presidential election, while Vance himself has yet to make a decision, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal on November 8.
On election day, November 4, Vance received a text message from a longtime associate suggesting that he should not pursue a presidential bid. Some of Vance's political allies have expressed strong doubts about the Republican Party's chances of winning in two years, the newspaper reported.
Two close associates even asked Vance about the possibility of returning to Ohio to challenge for a Senate seat, while one suggested he consider running for governor. Vance reportedly declined these proposals. It is unusual for a prominent presidential contender who has served as a senator and vice president to be advised to lower his political ambitions. The newspaper noted that the ease with which his associates made such suggestions is noteworthy.
Additionally, Vance had anticipated the Republican Party's poor performance in the midterms. According to his associates, he has been pessimistic about the impact of the Iran war on the party's electoral prospects. In September, in response to a text from a political ally regarding the challenging political landscape for Republicans, Vance reportedly expressed uncertainty about whether he should run for president.
Some donors have expressed disappointment over the Democratic Party's gain of a Senate seat in Vance's home state of Ohio. As a result, figures like Florida Governor Ron DeSantis are being mentioned as alternatives, the newspaper reported.
Despite this, Vance remains a leading contender for the Republican nomination. Two of his associates told the WSJ that the midterm results reflect a rejection of President Donald Trump rather than a rejection of the party itself, suggesting that once the Iran war concludes, a pro-Trump coalition could be reestablished.
After the midterm elections, Vance posted on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) highlighting four key issues: ending the Iran war, addressing inflation, emphasizing America First policies, and changing relations with Israel. Political consultant Douglas McKinnon noted in a column for The Hill that the Republican Party's midterm losses were due to rising living costs linked to the Iran war and a loss of support among workers and young voters. He pointed out that Vance, at 42 years old with four young children, is closer to Generation Z than most figures from the Trump administration.
However, Politico reported that Vance faces the challenging task of appealing to voters by emphasizing his opposition to the Iran war while avoiding overt criticism of President Trump as he prepares for the next presidential election.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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