Vice President JD Vance picked up his first Senate endorsement for the 2028 presidential election from Sen. Jim Banks (R-IN).
“Vice President JD Vance is the clear choice in 2028 to carry on our America First agenda and I look forward to supporting him,” Banks said, according to The Washington Post.
Vance has yet to publicly decide if he’s running in the 2028 presidential election.
Vance’s first 2028 GOP presidential endorsement by a senator comes from Indiana Sen. Jim Banks. (Before Vance has said he’s running)
“Vice President JD Vance is the clear choice in 2028 to carry on our America First agenda and I look forward to supporting him.”…
— Natalie Andrews (@natalieandrews) September 14, 2026
More from The Washington Post:
Vance has yet to say whether he is running — even as he seemed to enjoy the chants of “48!” while he addressed an arena of Republicans at last week’s midterm convention, in a reference to becoming the country’s 48th president.
ADVERTISEMENTBanks’s public support adds to the momentum the vice president appears to be building among Republicans, as Secretary of State Marco Rubio — once seen as his most formidable rival — has made clear he does not intend to run in 2028 if Vance does. Pushback remains from within some factions of the GOP, particularly over Vance’s opposition to the Iran war and his association with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson.
Banks’ support of Vance came during remarks he made about Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE), who is reportedly considering a presidential bid.
"LOL," he responded to Bacon's potential White House run.
— Jim Banks (@Jim_Banks) September 12, 2026
“It is laughable that Don Bacon, one of the most irrelevant and anti-Trump members of Congress over the last decade would think he could run for president," Banks told the Indianapolis Star.
🚨 JUST IN: Sen. Jim Banks ENDORSES a JD Vance 2028 presidential campaign, RIPS Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE) for even considering trying to run against him
BANKS: "It is laughable that Don Bacon, one of the most irrelevant and anti-Trump members of Congress over the last decade would… pic.twitter.com/ZUoqDBu7BJ
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) September 14, 2026
Indianapolis Star shared further:
Although the Indiana senator might be chuckling now, Bacon isn't.
In a social media post sent earlier Sunday morning, the long-serving Nebraska congressman suggested Banks was shallow and without direction.
"I’ve worked with Banks over a decade," Bacon posted on social media on Sept. 13. "He has little depth as a thinker and his finger is always in the air sensing which direction the wind is blowing. He’s a political animal with no compass."
As of late Monday, Sept. 14, no more pot shots appear to have been fired between the Republican lawmakers on social media.
Bacon last year floated the idea serving either as Nebraska governor or in the executive office during an interview he had with NBC News after announcing his retirement from Congress. His final day is Jan. 2, 2027.
ADVERTISEMENTBanks is far from alone in his support of Vice President JD Vance assuming the mantle of leadership.
Newly released poll numbers over the Labor Day weekend show both the vice president and Secretary Marco Rubio among the top possible Republican frontrunners in the 2028 presidential election, earning 43% and 21% respectively.
