Vance's campaign blitz puts him at the forefront of the GOP midterm push, with 19 rallies since September

As Republicans rally ahead of a midterm election that will determine whether the GOP maintains control of both chambers of Congress, Vice President JD Vance took to the campaign trail once again on Monday to speak with voters in New York and Ohio.

Vance's role in the midterm blitz has been eyed by many top GOP strategists and insiders, who say his actions on the trail could offer insight into what a 2028 run might look like for the 42-year-old vice president.

House Majority Whip Tom Emmer said: “Vice President Vance is constantly on the road. I believe he's been in just shy of 50 battleground districts and or states this cycle. He's been a workhorse.” Emmer added that, like President Donald Trump, Vance keeps a schedule that is “frankly incredibly impressive.”

Vance has held 19 rallies since the GOP midterm convention in early September in Dallas, and dozens of events across the country prior to the convention.

His role in the midterms has fuelled further speculation about his potential run for president in 2028. Former White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer explained that his midterm campaign efforts add to his resume, but that his fundraising abilities and his role as finance chair of the Republican National Committee will also be an important advantage if he runs for president.

Spicer said what makes this vice president unique is “a combination of the policy chops” and “the political chops,” noting: “He is the first vice president to ever be the finance chair of the RNC. His network of donors is going to be a massive advantage if he runs in '28.”

Vance has repeatedly told reporters that he is focused on his current portfolio of work and has shied away from questions concerning a potential run for the Oval Office. He is, however, the favorite in several prediction markets.

President Donald Trump told reporters in late October that he is focused on the midterms before looking at which Republican may run in 2028, saying: “It's early. We are very early right now. We have to get through the midterms. We'll see how it goes.”

As for Vance's work off the campaign trail, former White House Chief of Staff and former RNC Chairman Reince Priebus compared Vance's responsibilities with those of former Vice President Kamala Harris, saying Vance has had to take charge of more key issues — from leading the anti-fraud task force to negotiating a peace deal in the Middle East. “He's a trusted administrator of huge problems facing our country,” Priebus said.

Pollsters predict that Democrats have an edge in the House as the midterms approach, while the Senate remains “on a knife edge,” according to Priebus. The former RNC chairman noted that traditional red and blue waves are far rarer now than in previous midterm elections, with a smaller number of House seats shifting between parties every cycle.

Priebus said: “There are so few districts in our entire country that are up for grabs. At 435 House seats, how many are really in play? Maybe 30? And in those 30, there's probably only about 5,000 votes in each of those 30 that could go either way. So, that's why you have ripples, I think, nowadays and not waves. The Senate races are all on a knife edge.”

Former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows said Vance's increased presence in the midterm blitz has led to his name emerging alongside President Donald Trump as the face of the party. “I think for the first time, a broader spectrum of people are seeing JD Vance as the campaigner, and not as a campaigner for him personally,” Meadows said, pointing out that most of Vance's dynamic interactions have not been in Iowa, New Hampshire or South Carolina.

GOP members of Congress have also noted the increased presence of the vice president as they fight to maintain the majority in the House. Representative Brandon Gill said he traveled with Vance to Texas and noted the impact the vice president had in the state. “The American people love Vice President Vance. At all the rallies I've been out with them, they were packed, people were fired up,” Gill said.

The vice president held two rallies ahead of the midterms on Monday, one in Rome, New York and the other in Swanton, Ohio, advocating for GOP congressional candidates and pushing for the Republicans to maintain the majority.

Vance told voters in New York on Monday: “Take your friends, take your neighbors, take your grandparents. Get out there and let them know that we are going to send a message that America belongs to those who love it, not those who hate it.”