Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) on Wednesday affirmed he wants to be president as the Republican Party‘s field of contenders in 2028 begins to take shape, setting up an intense race to determine who will seek to succeed President Donald Trump.

While Vice President JD Vance is viewed by some to be Trump’s heir apparent, Cruz has sought to dash expectations that the GOP will readily coronate the vice president as the party’s presidential nominee in two years.