A Republican campaign event held on Friday in Lima, Ohio, to support the party's candidates in the midterm elections scheduled for November became a showcase for the political profile of US Vice-President JD Vance, who is widely viewed as the leading contender to succeed President Donald Trump, despite not formally announcing a 2028 presidential bid.
Vance showcases his presence at Lima event
Vance arrived at the event aboard Air Force Two, the aircraft assigned to the vice-president, and made a theatrical descent of its steps before receiving a warm welcome inside the venue, which was set up in a flag-decorated aircraft hangar.
The vice-president took an unusual step during his campaign activities, stepping down from the stage to shake hands with attendees personally and exchange greetings and pats on the shoulder. As he moved among the participants, Vance met a woman wearing a black hat bearing a slogan supporting him, reinforcing the character of an event that was supposed to focus on Republican candidates before his political and personal presence overshadowed it.
Republican challenges threaten congressional majority
But Vance's activities come as Republicans face challenges ahead of the midterm elections. Opinion polls suggest that Trump's declining popularity, the war with Iran and rising living costs could cost the party its majority in Congress.
Ohio, which has voted for Trump in the past three presidential elections, is no longer a guaranteed Republican stronghold and has instead become one of the most fiercely contested battlegrounds ahead of the vote scheduled for 3 November. The state is seeing a close race for the Senate seat previously held by Vance and now occupied by John Husted.
The contest also extends to the Ohio governorship, with former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy in the race. As an indication of the party's interest in the state's results, Vance's visit came just days after a visit by Trump and ahead of another visit the US president plans to make next week.
Ohio results reflect on Vance's political future
Republicans losing control of Congress could force Trump to spend the final two years of his term facing battles over multiple investigations led by Democrats. For Vance, meanwhile, a Republican defeat in Ohio could cause political damage, given that his public image is tied to his upbringing among the state's working class.
Vance drew on his experience in Ohio in his memoir, ‘Hillbilly Elegy’, which sold widely and helped build his political profile. The state's results are therefore linked to his ability to present himself as someone capable of mobilising voters in his former stronghold, as speculation about his presidential ambitions grows.
Well, I think it has nothing to do with 2028. It is about how we govern our country over the next two years and the next decade
Early speculation over the 2028 presidential race
Despite denying that his activities are linked to the 2028 election, competition for the next presidential race is expected to begin in earnest the day after the midterm elections. Vance has not formally announced his candidacy, and it remains too early to settle his position as Trump's successor within the Republican Party. At the same time, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has announced that he will not run against Vance.
Nevertheless, his speech on Western civilisation, delivered at the Acropolis in Athens, was widely seen as an attempt to present himself as a potential presidential candidate. As interest in the 42-year-old vice-president has grown, Vance has become more eager to take members of his family with him on campaign tours.
His wife, Usha, and three of their four children accompanied him, along with their dog, Atlas, aboard Air Force Two during a trip to Cincinnati, where he voted early in the midterm elections. Vance is also active in fundraising for the Republican Party.
His position as chair of the finance committee of the party's national committee places him at the centre of a broad network of wealthy major donors, giving him an influential role in supporting campaigns and building relationships within the party establishment.
Politically, Vance is gradually seeking to distance himself from the dilemma facing vice-presidents when they are fully tied to the policies of an outgoing president, a problem Kamala Harris faced during the 2024 election. His speeches have helped portray him as more aware of the financial burdens facing American families, at a time when Trump dismisses what he describes as a hoax related to the affordability of living costs.
By adopting independent positions, Vance is seeking to counter criticism that he is politically inconsistent, after previously comparing Trump to Hitler before becoming his vice-president. In this context, he tried on Friday to distance himself from Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, following the announcement of a plan to broadcast live an execution by firing squad carried out directly by the US military.
Vance, who recently converted to Catholicism, told a reporter accompanying him on his journey on Friday: “I have seen these announcements, but I am not sure that it will actually happen.” He added: “If it is broadcast live, I will not watch it.”
