Bill Maher tells JD Vance Democratic radicalism on Israel and socialism could put his vote 'in play'

Comedian Bill Maher revealed to Vice President JD Vance that he could consider voting Republican in 2028. 

Appearing on Friday’s episode of "Real Time with Bill Maher," Vance and Maher sparred over the future of the Republican Party amid the rise of Democratic socialism, with Maher confessing he could flip his vote red under certain conditions. 

"If this is where the Democratic Party is going — this obsession with Israel, with the Jew-hating, they don’t believe in capitalism, no prisons. If this is where they’re going, my vote is in play," Maher told Vance.

Maher added that he has never voted along party lines, and prefers the candidate who he sees as best fit to lead the country.

BILL MAHER OPEN TO VOTING REPUBLICAN BUT SAYS PARTY WOULD HAVE TO BE 'VERY DIFFERENT'

Comedian Bill Maher told Vice President JD Vance that his vote is "in play" and said he could back a Republican if the party changes its approach to future election results. (Real Time with Bill Maher/YouTube)

"Every year, I don’t make my decision by who has an R or a D, I actually always came to the conclusion that the Democrat was probably better and voted for them," Maher said. 

He went on to say that he would consider voting Republican — but only if the party would concede in future elections. 

"It’s either going to be you or Rubio," Maher continued. "Here’s my dealbreaker for your side: Under Trump, you guys have two outcomes that an election can be, either we win or they cheated. That s— has to stop. And that means the person who has to stop it will be you, or Marco. Can you tell me you will do that?"

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US Vice President JD Vance speaks to members of the media after the US and Iran held high-level talks aimed at advancing a deal to end the Middle East conflict at the Lake Lucerne Summit, near Lake Lucerne, Switzerland, on June 22, 2026. (Photo by Nathan Howard / POOL / AFP via Getty Images)

Vance, however, doubled down on his belief that previous elections had involved a level of censorship. 

"OK, Bill, so this is where I’m probably going to lose you here," Vance said. "I don’t think we should not concede elections, but I don’t think that’s what’s going on."  

"The biggest criticism I had of the 2020 election is that you had technology companies that were quite literally censoring negative information about the left and promoting negative information about the right," he continued.

MAHER SHAMES CLINTONS, KAMALA, DEMS, SAYING THEY WONT GO ON HIS SHOW OR ANYWHERE THEY AREN'T 'PRE-ADORED'

Bill Maher said his Democratic voting streak could end, telling Vice President JD Vance that a future GOP ticket would likely be led by Vance or Secretary of State Marco Rubio. (Photographer: Yuri Gripas/Abaca/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

"Well, you’re going to get a big pat on the back when you go back to the White House," Maher replied, after pointing out that the claims of voter interference had been litigated. 

The comic commended Vance for appearing on his show, while revealing a few high-profile politicians who have reportedly turned him down.

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"I’m just glad you’re talking to me, you know?" Maher told the Vice President. "I mean, I say it every time, the Republicans come here and they take their beating like a man."

"It’s the people I vote for, they’re the ones who won’t talk to me. That’s odd, isn’t it?" Maher continued.

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Vance went on to ask if New York City Democratic socialist Darializa Avila Chevalier would appear on Maher’s show after her historic upset win earlier this week, when she unseated incumbent Rep. Adriano Espaillat in the Democratic primary for New York’s 13th Congressional District.

"I can’t get [Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez], I can’t get Mamdani, I couldn’t get Kamala Harris. Took me eight years to get Obama," Maher replied.