Texas Senator Ted Cruz is increasingly positioning himself for a potential 2028 presidential campaign, making repeated trips to Iowa, appearing on podcasts and promoting his latest book as he considers another bid for the White House.

Cruz has visited Iowa three times this year, including appearances with Republican activists and candidates. The early-primary state played a major role in his 2016 presidential campaign, when he won the Iowa caucuses before ultimately losing the Republican nomination to Donald Trump.

The senator has also been more open about his presidential ambitions. During an August podcast appearance, Cruz said, “It’s no secret that I want to be president,” while leaving open whether he will ultimately enter the 2028 race.

Behind the scenes, Cruz is reportedly taking additional steps toward a possible campaign. The Wall Street Journal reported that he has quietly asked potential staffers whether they would be interested in working on a 2028 presidential bid.

Cruz has also begun drawing distinctions between himself and Vice President JD Vance, who is widely viewed as one of the leading potential Republican candidates to succeed Trump. During a recent podcast appearance, Cruz described Vance as more “isolationist” on foreign policy and criticized his approach to negotiations involving Iran.

Cruz has separately criticized conservative commentator Tucker Carlson, a political ally of Vance, particularly over Carlson’s positions on Israel and foreign policy. His attacks have provided another avenue for Cruz to distinguish himself from the emerging Vance wing of the Republican Party.

President Trump has not endorsed a 2028 successor, although Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are widely considered among the leading contenders. Cruz remains focused on his Senate responsibilities and has not formally announced a presidential campaign.

For now, his activity represents early positioning in what is expected to become a crowded Republican field after Trump leaves office.