Vice President Vance will take on the role of finance chair of the Republican National Committee (RNC) as the party looks to keep its congressional majorities in 2026.
The RNC announced the unprecedented move in a release on Tuesday, noting it’s the first time in the history of the GOP that the sitting vice president has served simultaneously as finance chair. Vance will replace Richard “Duke” Buchan III, who served as U.S. ambassador to Spain during the first Trump term and was named as finance chair at the end of 2021.
Trump has nominated Buchan to serve as ambassador to Morocco.
Vance said in a statement that he looks forward to working with RNC Chair Michael Whatley and Republican leaders to build the war chest necessary to win next November.
“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. “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.”
Trump said Vance will do a “fantastic job” as he knows how to win tough races.
Whatley thanked Buchan for his work as finance chair, saying his efforts were an “essential contribution” to Republican success in 2024.
Fox News first reported the development.
An RNC official told Fox that Whatley appointed Vance to the role and that him serving as finance chair shows “just how much the White House and the RNC are in lockstep this cycle.”
“Everyone is laser-focused on growing our majorities in 2026, and we are going to aggressively fundraise to be ready for next year,” the official said.
The Trump campaign and RNC worked closely together throughout the 2024 race, particularly with a fundraising agreement in which donations would flow to the campaign and a political action committee covering his legal expenses before going to the party itself. Trump also exerted his influence to pick the RNC’s new leader after former Chair Ronna McDaniel stepped down in March, throwing his support to Whatley.
Both parties are already starting to gear up for the 2026 midterms. Democrats will look to win back control of the House and at least make gains in the Senate, while the GOP will attempt to hold onto its narrow majorities in both houses.
