GRAPEVINE, Texas | Vice President J.D. Vance is favored to win the GOP nomination for president in 2028, according to a new straw poll taken by attendees at the Conservative Political Action Conference on Saturday.
Mr. Vance earned support from about 53% of attendees who participated in the presidential preference poll at the annual conservative confab.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio finished second, with 35%, and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Donald Trump Jr., the president’s eldest son, tied for third place, with 2% each.
Other potential Republican contenders who each received 1% of support: Sens. Ted Cruz of Texas and Rand Paul of Kentucky, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott.
The CPAC straw poll is seen as an early bellwether for which candidates GOP voters are supporting.
Last year’s CPAC poll showed Mr. Vance led with 61% among 1,022 CPAC attendees, and in second place, first-term Trump adviser and conservative personality Steven K. Bannon with 12%. Mr. Rubio garnered only 3% last year.
Saturday’s straw poll results for 2028 were not a surprise, as Mr. Vance and Mr. Rubio are often seen as the GOP’s frontrunners to carry on the MAGA legacy when President Trump, who did not attend CPA this year, leaves the White House in 2029.
Both men are good friends who served in the Senate together, and their chiefs of staff, who are also friends, also worked in the Senate at the same time.
Mr. Rubio has not made any remarks or taken any actions indicating that he will run for the White House. Instead, he appears to be boosting Mr. Vance.
“If J.D. Vance runs for president, he’s going to be our nominee, and I’ll be one of the first people to support him,” Mr. Rubio told Vanity Fair last year.
