Ted Cruz has hit back at JD Vance after the vice-president suggested the Texas senator was already positioning himself for the 2028 Republican presidential nomination, calling the comments a sign of insecurity.
Speaking by phone on Saturday, Mr Cruz said: “In my experience, people engage in political bomb-throwing when they’re feeling insecure.”
He added: “So he’s welcome to make whatever comments he likes. I’m going to keep focusing on the midterms and helping us win on Election Day in the next 30 days.”
Mr Vance made the remarks during an NBC News interview on Thursday, saying: “It is really obvious to me that, at this very moment, Ted Cruz is running for president. At this moment, I’m not. I’m trying to help elect Republicans. That’s what I’m going to keep on doing.”
The vice-president is widely viewed as the frontrunner for the Republican presidential nomination. Mr Cruz, however, has said he does not regard Mr Vance as a certain nominee and indicated in August that he could enter the race.
“I’ll certainly be part of the discussion,” he said at the time.
Mr Cruz said his priority was helping Republicans retain control of both chambers of Congress in the 2026 midterm elections. He cited campaigning alongside candidates in Georgia, Iowa, Nebraska, South Carolina and Texas, with further trips planned this month to Alaska, Florida, North Carolina and South Carolina.
“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,” he said.
Mr Cruz also pointed to his support for a dozen Republican candidates over recent years, including former Virginia governor Glenn Youngkin, North Carolina senator Thom Tillis and House candidate Karoline Leavitt.
He recalled campaigning with Mr Vance during his 2022 Senate campaign in Ohio, saying: “I was very glad he won that race. I was very glad to help him.”
A spokesperson for Mr Vance did not immediately respond to Mr Cruz’s latest comments. Mr Vance campaigned in Texas and Florida this week and is due to hold a rally in Alaska on Monday.
