JD Vance wins CPAC straw poll, cements early lead for 2028 GOP nomination
GRAPEVINE, TEXAS: Vice President JD Vance has emerged as the leading contender for the Republican presidential nomination in 2028, according to a new straw poll conducted at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC).
The poll, held on Saturday, March 28, offers an early indication of voter sentiment within conservative circles. With President Donald Trump absent from the event and rising attention around other potential successors, the results point to shifting dynamics in the GOP’s succession race.
JD Vance leads CPAC straw poll, emerges as early GOP frontrunner for 2028
Vance secured approximately 53% support from CPAC attendees who participated in the presidential preference poll, according to New York Times reporter Kellen Browning. Secretary of State Marco Rubio placed second with 35%, while Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Donald Trump Jr. tied at 2%.
A group of candidates including Ted Cruz, Rand Paul, Pete Hegseth, Tulsi Gabbard, and Greg Abbott each received 1%. Two other contenders on the list garnered no support.
The results reflect a shift from the previous year’s CPAC meeting in Oxon Hill, where Vance led with 61% among 1,022 attendees. At that time, Steve Bannon followed with 12% and DeSantis received 7%. Rubio’s support has increased significantly from just 3% in 2025, signaling growing traction among Trump-aligned voters.
The straw poll, which surveyed around 1,600 participants this year, is often viewed as an early barometer of Republican voter preferences. Vance’s position at the top reinforces his standing as a leading figure to carry forward the conservative agenda after Trump, who is not eligible to run again.
His rise has been closely tied to his role as Trump’s running mate in 2024. However, Trump’s recent praise for Rubio’s diplomatic work has fueled speculation about a potential rivalry between the two figures.
Fox News contributors posed a pointed question during the president’s appearance on The Five on Thursday, asking, “Who’s going to be the next president?” The remark drew laughter from Trump, who responded, “Well, I would say that it will be a Republican. I really believe that and I think it will be a good one,” he said.
JD Vance and Marco Rubio downplay rivalry as Trump absence shapes CPAC race
Despite such speculation, Vance has downplayed any tensions. In a November interview with Sean Hannity, he stated, “I don’t feel like that at all,” adding that it would be “ridiculous” to view Rubio as a rival and describing him instead as “a colleague.”
Rubio, in turn, told Vanity Fair that he would be “one of the first people to support” Vance if he chose to run.
Trump reportedly skipped CPAC this year, the first time in a decade, amid the ongoing conflict with Iran and mounting pressure over rising oil and gas prices ahead of the midterms.
Notably, none of the leading 2028 contenders addressed the conference, which has traditionally served as a platform for emerging Republican figures.
One exception was Cruz, who received a warm reception while outlining a vision that blends Trump-era populism with traditional GOP principles such as limited government, low taxes, and reduced regulation. Nevertheless, his support in the poll remained at just 1%.
The event’s final speaker, Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., also failed to generate momentum, receiving 0% support.
The results underscore Vance’s early lead while highlighting Rubio’s rise and the broader uncertainty shaping the Republican Party’s post-Trump trajectory.
