# Vance's 2028 hopes fade after GOP midterm collapse

> Vice President JD Vance looked like the presumptive Republican nominee until this week's electoral landslide cast his future into doubt.
- Title: Vance's 2028 hopes fade after GOP midterm collapse · Vox
- Summary: Vice President JD Vance looked like the presumptive Republican nominee until this week's electoral landslide cast his future into doubt.
- Keywords: jd vance, 2028 presidential race, republican party, 2026 midterm elections, stephen miller, maga movement, trump administration, marco rubio, ron desantis, Vox
- Source: Vox — https://vox.com/today-explained-newsletter/509815/jd-vance-2028-maga-midterms-stephen-miller
- Author: Cameron Peters
- Published: 2026-11-06T23:10:23+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: jd vance, 2028 presidential race, republican party, 2026 midterm elections, stephen miller, maga movement, trump administration, marco rubio, ron desantis, news, culture
## The GOP's worst defeat in fifty years
The Republican Party just suffered what may be the biggest electoral landslide since 1976. It is a comprehensive, crushing repudiation of the party in power.
## Vance was the presumptive nominee
Vice President JD Vance had the clearest claim to President Donald Trump's legacy and looked like the presumptive Republican presidential nominee in 2028.
## The landslide changes everything
Being closely linked to the president is a liability when the president gets hit with Electoral Ragnarok. Vance's position as frontrunner is now in doubt.
## Vance's own misstep this week
On Wednesday, Vance posted a strange and lengthy message on X blaming the Iran war for his party's electoral woes, damaging his case further.
## Is MAGA itself dead?
Conservative writer Rod Dreher says yes: after a historic electoral thrashing, MAGA as a political movement is dead. But the Trump White House disagrees.
## Miller takes over as chief of staff
Trump announced Stephen Miller would become White House chief of staff starting Monday, replacing Susie Wiles. Miller drove many of Trump's cruelest policies.
## The White House will double down
Miller's promotion signals the administration will double down on unpopular policies, particularly around immigration, that helped Republicans lose the midterms.
## Other candidates circle the opening
Vance's weakness may embolden other potential contenders like Secretary of State Marco Rubio and outgoing Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to enter the 2028 race.
## Key takeaway

JD Vance's position as the Republican frontrunner for 2028 weakens after the GOP's worst midterm performance since 1976, with Stephen Miller's promotion signalling the White House will double down on unpopular policies.