**Republican Party’s Election Night Defeat Could Derail JD Vance’s 2028 Presidential Hopes**
*Published: Nov. 5, 2025, 3:30 p.m. ET*
The Republican Party faced a devastating night on Election Day, and with it, JD Vance’s aspirations of becoming president in 2028 may have taken a severe hit, RadarOnline.com can reveal.
The Democrats enjoyed several significant victories on Tuesday, November 4, including Zohran Mamdani’s historic win as New York City’s new mayor — a surprising outcome given that President Trump backed his rival, the disgraced Andrew Cuomo.
### Vance Attempts to Recover from a Nightmare Election Night
In the wake of the embarrassing defeat, Vance quickly took to X (formerly Twitter) to address the fallout. He tweeted, “I think it’s idiotic to overreact to a couple of elections in blue states, but a few thoughts,” adding that the GOP needs to “do better at turning out voters than we have in the past.”
He further stated:
“… The infighting is stupid. I care about my fellow citizens, particularly young Americans, being able to afford a decent life; I care about immigration and our sovereignty, and I care about establishing peace overseas so our resources can be focused at home. If you care about those things too, let’s work together.”
Despite the Vice President’s—aged 41—attempt to rally support and maintain unity, many Republican followers remained unconvinced. Some have already dismissed his chances in the 2028 presidential race, openly questioning his viability.
### Ron DeSantis Emerges as the Preferred Alternative
One X account, “Cryptic Politics,” announced its departure from the Vance camp, stating:
“JD Vance is going to have an awfully tough time with his 2028 presidential campaign if the midterms go anything like tonight is going for the GOP. I’m with Ron DeSantis.”
Other users echoed similar sentiments. One commented, “Same here, DeSantis is my go-to, but I will back whoever wins the Republican Party Primary, even if I don’t care for them.” Another predicted, “Me too. But he’s not going to run,” while a critic added, “I think JD Vance is going to have the same problem that (Kamala) Harris did. Trump got beaten by (Joe) Biden because people were tired of him, and I think it’s going to be a similar situation if he doesn’t chill out. People are already exhausted from dealing with his moods.”
DeSantis, Florida’s governor, previously ran for president in 2024 before dropping out and throwing his support behind Trump.
### Additional Setbacks for Vance’s Camp
During the Democratic surge, Vance’s half-brother, Cory Bowman, also faced a humiliating defeat, garnering just 22 percent of the vote against Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval.
Ahead of the mayoral primary in May, Vance endorsed Bowman’s campaign, urging voters:
“He’s a good guy with a heart for serving his community. Get out there and vote for him!”
### Personal Rumors Compound Vance’s Troubles
As if Election Night wasn’t difficult enough, Vance has been battling rumors that his marriage is on the rocks. A recent public appearance with Erika Kirk, widow of Charlie Kirk, only fueled speculation.
At a Turning Point USA event last month, Vance revealed he wants his Indian wife, Usha, to convert to Christianity. This statement sparked accusations of “Hindu-phobia.”
In response to the backlash, Vance fired back on X:
“She is not a Christian, and has no plans to convert, but like many people in an interfaith marriage, or any interfaith relationship, I hope she may one day see things as I do.”
At the same event, Vance and Erika shared an embrace, with the 36-year-old placing her hand in his hair—an act one critic described as “incredibly intimate.”
Erika also expressed her admiration for Vance, saying:
“No one will ever replace my late husband, Charlie, but I do see some similarities of my husband in JD, in Vice President JD Vance. That’s why I’m so blessed to be able to introduce him tonight, because he understands the fight that we’re up against and he can articulate that in a way that transcends – he’s an amazing man.”
https://radaronline.com/p/vance-2028-chances-ron-desantis-election-marriage-troubles/