GOP focus groups float Candace Owens alongside JD Vance and Marco Rubio for 2028 White House run

WASHINGTON, DC: Candace Owens is emerging as an unexpected name in Republican voter focus groups discussing the GOP’s future after President Donald Trump, according to Republican strategist Sarah Longwell.

According to Longwell, Owens has repeatedly been mentioned by participants asked who they would like to see lead the Republican Party in 2028.

The findings have sparked discussion about whether conservative media personalities are increasingly competing with elected officials for influence within Republican politics.

The repeated mentions of Owens have drawn attention because established Republican figures such as Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are widely viewed as more traditional successors to Trump.

Candace Owens gains traction in GOP focus groups

Longwell said Owens’ name surfaced across multiple voter groups involving Republicans, independents, and former Biden voters who later backed Trump.

Participants frequently described the conservative commentator as articulate, outspoken, and capable of challenging establishment politics.

“I think Candace Owens is great. I would vote for her in a minute,” said Mycal, a North Carolina voter who previously supported Joe Biden before voting for Trump.

Another participant, Daniela, said, “If we would've swapped out Candace for Kamala, they would've had this in the bag.”

Owens, 37, first gained prominence through Turning Point USA before building a major conservative media platform through podcasts, interviews, and social media commentary.

Her profile has grown significantly in recent years as she expanded beyond traditional Republican messaging into broader cultural and online debates.

Longwell argued that Owens’ influence now extends beyond the core Republican base. She pointed to Owens’ recent podcast interview with Hunter Biden as an example of her growing crossover visibility, describing it as “the melding of two of the internet’s main characters.”

Trump’s rise from television personality to president is often cited by analysts as proof that media visibility and outsider rhetoric can resonate with frustrated voters.

Other media figures, including Tucker Carlson and Stephen Colbert, have also periodically sparked political speculation because of their large audiences and cultural influence.

Questions grow over GOP’s post-Trump future

The renewed attention on Owens comes as Vance and Rubio continue to be viewed as leading Republican figures for a possible 2028 presidential race.

Both men have consistently appeared near the top of early GOP polling, with Rubio at times outperforming Vance in surveys measuring favorability among Republican voters.

Still, some strategists say Owens’ prominence in focus groups reflects how online influence and viral recognition are reshaping political visibility.

Her rise has also come alongside significant controversy. Owens has faced criticism over conspiracy theories involving Israel, the assassination of Charlie Kirk, and claims about French first lady Brigitte Macron.

Trump himself recently criticized Owens on Truth Social, calling her “an extremely Low IQ individual” over her remarks about the French first lady.

Not all reactions were positive. One Louisiana voter said Owens “spiraled and started saying some wild stuff” after Charlie Kirk’s assassination, while another participant called her conspiracy theories “out of control.”