Vice President Vance has a new gig: fundraising for the Republican National Committee

Vice President JD Vance will assume the role of finance chairman for the Republican National Committee — an unconventional move for a sitting vice president, but one that also places a top ally of President Trump within the party’s campaign wing ahead of the 2026 midterms.

“Last year, President Trump won an historic election victory, taking back the White House and helping Republicans regain control of the Senate and retain control of the House,” Vance said in a statement provided by the RNC on Tuesday. “But to fully enact the MAGA mandate and President Trump’s vision that voters demanded, we must keep and grow our Republican majorities in 2026.”

Presidents and vice presidents typically hold indirect influence over their party’s national committee, rather than serving within the ranks. According to the RNC, Vance will be the first sitting vice president to serve as finance chairman.

“Vice President Vance is not only one of our Party’s most talented messengers, he is also a thought leader who has helped remake the GOP into the party of working Americans representing the forgotten men and women of our country,” RNC Chairman Michael Whatley said in a statement.

As finance chairman, Vance will play a key role in the GOP’s fundraising efforts, getting valuable facetime with some of the most influential conservative donors — a potentially beneficial role for the vice president as he weighs his political ambitions for the 2028 presidential race.

Vance is currently considered a front-runner in what may be a packed Republican presidential primary. However, Trump told FOX News in February that he does not see Vance as his successor — at least not yet.

“I think you have a lot of very capable people,” Trump said. “So far, I think he’s doing a fantastic job. It’s too early. We’re just starting.”

Vance is not the first member of Trump’s inner circle to work within the RNC. The president’s daughter-in-law Lara Trump previously served as a co-chair of the committee but stepped down in December.

Vance will succeed former investor Duke Buchan as finance chair. Trump has selected Buchan to serve as the U.S. Ambassador to Morocco. Buchan served as ambassador to Spain during Trump’s first administration.

 

Are you smarter than a 13-year-old? Take our Scripps Spelling Bee test and find out

If you weren't playing along at home during Thursday night's final, take our mini-Bee quiz, which uses words from the real thing.

Will I get refunds? Small businesses wonder as courts rule on Trump tariffs

Court rulings against President Trump's tariffs could spell relief for many American importers — if the decisions hold. For now, the uncertainty remains.

Federal workers keep America’s farms healthy. What now under Trump?

More than a thousand people who worked to keep American agriculture free of pests and disease have left the federal workforce in President Trump's massive government downsizing.

Elon Musk is leaving the federal government. What’s next for DOGE?

Elon Musk is leaving the Department of Government Efficiency effort. His 130 day tenure was marked by legal setbacks, overstated savings claims and little evidence DOGE made things more efficient.

Which Biden-era case is the FBI NOT reexamining? Find out in the quiz

This week, vaccines took a hit from the Trump administration, some reality TV stars got pardoned, and there was a media frenzy around a certain French interaction. Were you paying attention?

AI-enabled ‘vibe coding’ lets anyone write software

You no longer need to be a software engineer to build software — you can "vibe code" it by prompting chatbots to build apps and websites. Could that put programmers out of a job?

More Front Page Coverage