Two of the biggest names in the Republican Party are making stops the next few days in Iowa, a key 2026 midterm battleground state whose caucuses, for a half century, have kicked off the GOP’s presidential nominating calendar.
Vice President and Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas will have the midterms on their minds during their visits, which come with just over six months to go until this year’s elections, when Republicans will be defending their slim Senate and razor-thin House majorities.
But the moment the midterms are over, the next presidential race officially gets underway. So the trips by Vance and Cruz may also pay dividends if either move forward and launch 2028 White House runs in the race to succeed term-limited President .
With three competitive House seats as well as what are expected to be close Senate and gubernatorial showdowns, veteran Republican strategist David Kochel said “Iowas important.”
“Because of how competitive Iowa looks to be right now… theres going to be a lot of money coming in and a lot of attention paid and because its Iowa, I think well have a pretty healthy parade of 2028 potentials coming through to try to do what they can to help in the midterms,” Kochel emphasized. “Its the best excuse to come to Iowa and get to know people and get seen and road test some messaging.”
on Friday, where he’ll deliver the keynote address at the Annual Spring Kickoff for the Iowa Faith & Freedom Coalition, a very influential Iowa social conservative political advocacy group.
The title of the firebrand conservative senator’s speech is “Constitutional Courage â Cruzing Toward Victory: A Roadmap for 2026.”
Cruz won the 2016 Iowa presidential caucuses, and was runner-up to Trump in that cycle’s combustible GOP presidential primaries. The senator took a hard look at making another run in the 2024 cycle before deciding to seek re-election to the Senate.
“There will be plenty of time to make those decisions. I don’t have an announcement for you today,” Cruz answered when asked by Fox News Digital recently if he was seriously considering another White House campaign.
But he appears to be laying the groundwork for a possible bid, as he positions himself as a conservative alternative to Vance, who is currently the odds-on favorite to be Trump’s MAGA and America First heir.
Cruz has grabbed plenty of attention with his clashes with far-right figures, such as Tucker Carlson, and he’s enhanced his already strong standing among conservative leaders and donors. And he’s bolstered his grassroots outreach with his popular and widely downloaded podcast, ‘Verdict with Ted Cruz.’
Vance on Tuesday, where he’ll appear with Republican Rep. Zach Nunn, who’s facing a tough re-election this year in a swing district in southwestern portion of the state.
The trip â Vance’s first as vice president to either Iowa or New Hampshire, which follows Iowa and holds the first presidential primary in the GOP’s nominating calendar â comes before what is widely expected to be a Vance 2028 campaign for the White House in the race to succeed his boss.
“Hes going to get a lot exposure and TV coverage,” Kochel said of Vance.
Vance has demurred when questioned about 2028, labeling speculation as “premature” and “disloyal” to Trump. He has said he’s focused on his job as vice president and on helping Republicans defend their slim Senate and fragile House majorities in the midterms.
But Vance has built a political team of advisers who, if he runs as expected, would quickly build out a presidential campaign.
While Vance is the clear front-runner in the very early 2028 Republican presidential nomination polls, Secretary of State has seen his support for a possible presidential bid soar this year, thanks to an increase in his responsibilities and public profile, most recently around the U.S. operation in Venezuela and the Iran war.
Rubio â who as a senator from F
