A former vice president is once again being asked about a future he recently said he did not plan.
Former Vice President Mike Pence is leaving the door open to a 2028 presidential run, even as he lectures the Republican Party on returning to its principles after last week's midterm results. In a Fox News Digital interview published Thursday, Pence declined to shut the door on another bid, while saying the current version of Republicanism was "rejected by the American people."
The interview, conducted by Fox News Digital's Paul Steinhauser and described as Pence's first post-election comments, comes just two months after the former Indiana governor told the Economic Club of Washington, D.C., that he had "no plans" for a 2028 White House run or any other elected office. Asked directly whether people had urged him to reconsider after the midterms, Pence said he had been "very humbled" by "a lot of people" asking him to run in 2028.
"The truth is, if we don't return the Republican Party to the principles of a strong defense, limited government, fiscal responsibility and the right to life, it won't matter who we nominate in 2028," Pence said. "Because this version of Republicanism was just rejected by the American people."
"But, I have great hope; I was there the last time we lost the majority in 2006. I have great confidence in our new leadership in the Congress that they know the path forward. But, I can tell you that I don't know what the future holds, but all of my energies, all of my focus and my calling, now, is to be a champion and an advocate for the conservative principles that have defined our party." Those were his comments on what comes next for him and for the party.
This is familiar territory for the man the Gateway Pundit has long described as a turncoat. In May 2025, the outlet reported that Pence had ruled out another White House run after his 2024 primary campaign, telling NBC's Kristen Welker he did not see it in his future and preferred to focus on policy.
That campaign, launched against President Donald Trump, collapsed amid poor fundraising and polling. Pence dropped out before the Iowa caucuses and later sought public financing while carrying more than $1.3 million in unpaid debts.
Pence's relationship with Trump deteriorated after he refused to object to the certification of the 2020 election results, despite widespread concerns raised by the president and millions of voters. He did not endorse Trump in 2024 and waited until after the victory to congratulate him.
More recently, the publication and Joe Hoft highlighted what they described as Pence's pattern of ignoring election integrity questions while positioning himself as the guardian of traditional conservative principles. The former vice president is now presenting himself as a champion of the same conservative tenets he says the party must reclaim.
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