Vice President JD Vance arrived in Iowa on Tuesday for his first visit to the state since taking office, a key stop as Republicans prepare to cast the first votes for their next presidential nominee in under two years. Vance, widely seen as a potential 2028 candidate, is campaigning for Representative Zach Nunn, who faces a competitive race to retain his Des Moines-area seat in the November midterm elections.
Vance, a former Ohio senator, left Washington with his son Vivek, stopping in Cincinnati to vote in Ohio's primaries before heading to Oklahoma City for a fundraiser as finance chair of the Republican National Committee. The Iowa visit offers him a chance to gauge his appeal among voters whose leadoff caucuses heavily influence the nomination process.
Jimmy Centers, a Republican consultant in Des Moines, said Vance would likely win a straw poll of Iowa Republicans for 2028, but noted it is too early to rule out others. The vice president's appearance comes days after Texas Senator Ted Cruz, another potential 2028 contender, addressed evangelical Christians in the state.
Vance's visit coincides with high gas and fertiliser prices affecting Iowans. He is scheduled to appear with Nunn at a Des Moines manufacturing facility. His office declined to comment on the trip's implications for his political future.
The vice president's message has been complicated by the ongoing conflict in Iran, which has driven up fuel and fertiliser costs. Historically sceptical of foreign interventions, Vance has appeared a reluctant defender of the war. Iowa farmers, while supportive of President Trump, seek assurances that economic difficulties will be temporary.
Vance's trip was rescheduled from the previous week due to a House vote on a farm bill. He had also planned to appear at Iowa State University with Turning Point USA, but the event was postponed until autumn. Veteran activist Kim Schmett said the presidential cycle is starting 'deceptively slow,' but noted that Trump's movement remains strong in Iowa, benefiting Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
