Former Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker said Vice President JD Vance is currently the Republican Party’s front-runner for the 2028 presidential nomination, but warned that the 2026 midterm elections could reshape the field.
In an exclusive video interview with the Washington Examiner, Walker said Vance has emerged as the leading contender for the nomination while suggesting Republicans looking to challenge him will need to offer a clear alternative.
“But right now, as it stands today, the vice president is clearly [the] front-runner,” Walker said.
Vance has increasingly emerged as a prominent possible 2028 candidate as Republicans look beyond President Donald Trump, who is constitutionally barred from seeking a third term. Recent Republican gatherings have highlighted Vance’s growing profile, with recent polling showing him leading the field of possible contenders by wide margins.
Trump, meanwhile, has repeatedly teased Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio as his successors but has stopped short of an endorsement.
Walker, who launched his own presidential campaign in 2015 before suspending it roughly two months later, said his experience as a former front-runner taught him that candidates should maintain momentum rather than become complacent.
“When you have the lead, don’t let up, don’t turn and look back,” Walker said. “Just keep running harder.
“I tried to tell this to Ron DeSantis years ago,” Walker said. “Just having a good track record is not enough. I think the key for the vice president is if he wants to be more than just a front-runner … he’s going to have to lay out very clear plans going forward for what comes next, both the primary voters and the key primary and caucus states.”
For Republicans seeking to challenge Vance, Walker said they should “lay out a clear vision” centered on free markets and limited government.
Walker also warned that younger voters who supported Trump could become more receptive to Democratic candidates if they believe Republicans have failed to deliver on their promises.
“There are some younger voters … who might have voted for President Donald Trump two years ago, who might actually be some of the same people voting for some of these Democratic socialists,” Walker said.
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Walker said the 2026 midterm election results could influence the 2028 Republican field. A strong Republican performance, he said, would strengthen Vance’s position, while a poor showing could prompt some Republicans to seek an alternative.
Walker currently serves as president of Young America’s Foundation, a conservative youth organization.