With his new shiny role helping to steer the Republican National Committee (RNC) as the finance chair, the VP isn’t just climbing the ladder; he looks to be riding a gold-plated escalator straight into presidential contention. The only thing that might derail him is a possible run for the presidency by Donald Trump Jr., but he’s said that he’s not interested in being his dad’s successor.

According to the Daily Caller News Foundation, Vance has been tapped to oversee financial party operations in the RNC and “will be one of the top fundraisers in the country for the party and play a pivotal role in directing its course in the 2026 midterms and beyond.”

They go on to say, “The position will grant Vance access to major GOP donors from all over the country and an ability to build rapport with them, cementing his status as the obvious leader for the GOP nomination in 2028 over potential opponents who will not have the same opportunities, GOP strategists and pundits.”

The “Hillbilly Elegy” author turned populist senator turned vice president is quickly morphing into the heir apparent, and with this new gig, he’ll be able to leverage his position to solidify alliances, stack chips, and rehearse his 2028 stump speech.

For his part, President Trump, when asked by Fox News’ Bret Baier at the beginning of February, if Vance is his successor, he said “No, but he’s very capable.” He went on to say that there are a lot of capable people but that it’s “too early” (to answer the question.)

So while Trump keeps his cards close to the vest, Vance is busy reshuffling the entire deck. As 2028 looms, JD Vance isn’t just another name on the list – he’s the guy holding the donor Rolodex, the campaign war chest, and quite possibly, the GOP’s future in his hands.