Vice President JD Vance has emerged as the frontrunner among conservative activists looking ahead to the 2028 Republican presidential race, capturing the majority of votes in a weekend straw poll conducted at the Conservative Political Action Conference.
The survey of more than 1,600 conference participants showed Vance securing 53% support, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio finished as the runner-up with 35% of votes cast. The conference took place this year in Grapevine, Texas.
CPAC represents a significant annual event that brings together Republican officials, grassroots activists, and potential presidential candidates from the party’s conservative base. While the organization’s yearly polling doesn’t always accurately forecast the ultimate party nominee, it provides insight into current sentiment within President Donald Trump’s Make America Great Again coalition.
With Trump currently in his second term and constitutionally barred from seeking reelection in 2028, conservative attention has turned to potential successors.
The results mark a shift from the previous year’s CPAC gathering in Oxon Hill, Maryland, where Vance dominated with 61% support. That poll saw conservative podcaster and former Trump advisor Steve Bannon take second place with 12%, while Florida Governor Ron DeSantis garnered 7%.
Rubio’s standing has improved dramatically from his modest 3% showing in last year’s survey. His enhanced profile stems from his prominent involvement in the administration’s major international initiatives, particularly military actions in Venezuela and Iran.
This year’s polling indicates that conservative support is becoming concentrated around the two leading candidates, with no other potential nominee receiving more than 2% of participant votes.
