Cruz-Vance rivalry heats up as Texas senator suggests VP is 'feeling insecure'

Sen. Ted Cruz accused Vice President JD Vance of "feeling insecure" after Vance suggested the Texas Republican was already running for president in 2028, escalating a public clash between two possible contenders for the GOP nomination.

"In my experience, people engage in political bomb-throwing when they’re feeling insecure," Cruz told Politico in a phone interview Saturday, responding to Vance’s claim in an interview with NBC News that it was "really obvious" Cruz was already running for president.

"So he’s welcome to make whatever comments he likes," Cruz told Politico. "I’m going to keep focusing on the midterms and helping us win on Election Day in the next 30 days."

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Vance made the accusation in an NBC News interview on Thursday.

"It is really obvious to me that, at this very moment, Ted Cruz is running for president," Vance told the outlet. "At this moment, I’m not. I’m trying to help elect Republicans. That’s what I’m going to keep on doing."

Vance is considered a possible contender for the 2028 Republican presidential nomination. Cruz, who ran for the GOP nomination in 2016, has left open the possibility of another White House bid.

"I’ll certainly be part of the discussion," Cruz told MS NOW in August when asked about the 2028 race.

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Cruz told Politico on Saturday that he remains focused on helping Republicans keep control of the House and Senate in November, pointing to his campaign travel on behalf of GOP candidates in Georgia, Iowa, Nebraska, South Carolina and his home state. He told the outlet he also plans to travel to Alaska, Florida, North Carolina and South Carolina this month.

"Over the last 10 years, there’s no Republican in the country who has campaigned for more Senate candidates, more House candidates, more gubernatorial candidates than I have, and this year will be no exception," Cruz told the outlet.

That campaigning has included helping Vance during his successful 2022 Senate run in Ohio.

"Indeed, ironically, I spent a full day on the road with JD Vance, campaigning with him when he was running for Senate in Ohio," Cruz told Politico. "I was very glad he won that race. I was very glad to help him."

Vance has also been campaigning for Republican candidates, with appearances in Texas and Florida last week. He is scheduled to hold a rally in Alaska on Monday.