---
title: "JD Vance surges to top spot in CPAC straw poll for 2028 US president race"
date: 2026-03-28
modified: 2026-03-29
author: ""
url: https://panamadaily.news/jd-vance-tops-cpac-straw-poll-2028/
categories:
  - "Politics"
  - "World"
tags:
  - "2028 election"
  - "CPAC"
  - "JD Vance"
  - "Marco Rubio"
  - "US politics"
---

# JD Vance surges to top spot in CPAC straw poll for 2028 US president race

Republican vice presidential contender JD Vance has taken the lead in CPAC’s informal straw poll on who could succeed Donald Trump in the 2028 US presidential election, according to a report that also describes Secretary of State Marco Rubio making inroads in the same contest.

## What Happened

In CPAC’s latest non-binding straw poll, JD Vance emerged as the top choice for the next Republican presidential candidate in 2028, placing him ahead of other prominent figures mentioned by party activists.

The same reporting also noted that Marco Rubio, who serves as US Secretary of State, made advances in this year’s informal assessment of who might succeed Trump, signaling continued competition within the party’s leadership ranks.

## Background

CPAC, the Conservative Political Action Conference, is one of the most visible gatherings for US right-leaning activists and politicians. Its straw polls are not official endorsements and do not determine nominations, but they are widely treated as a barometer of where movement energy and activist support appear to be heading.

Within US politics, the question of potential presidential successors often grows more prominent as administrations approach their later stages and as party figures test how voters respond to their messaging and leadership. This year’s informal CPAC polling reflects that recurring dynamic, framed here specifically around who could follow Trump in 2028.

The report ties the poll to two major names with high national profiles: Vance, positioned prominently in the Republican Party’s current narrative, and Rubio, a leading figure in the Trump-era political orbit due to his role at the State Department and his continued political visibility.

## Why It Matters

Even as a non-binding survey, CPAC straw polling can influence how candidates and campaigns calibrate strategy—particularly on issues that energize core conservative audiences. A rising profile for Vance may shape the kinds of proposals and political priorities that gain attention within Republican ranks leading up to the 2028 election cycle.

For Panama and the wider Latin American region, the most direct connection comes through the US role in diplomacy, trade relationships, and regional engagement. The identities of top US political figures—and their perceived standing with influential conservative constituencies—can matter for expectations about future US foreign policy direction, including engagement in the hemisphere and approaches to immigration and bilateral relationships.

Rubio’s movement in the straw poll is also noteworthy given his cabinet-level responsibilities. Any shift in political momentum among prominent US officials can alter how Washington’s priorities are communicated and pursued, with potential downstream effects for countries that rely on consistent US policy frameworks.

At this stage, the CPAC results should be understood as a snapshot of activist sentiment rather than a definitive forecast. Still, the story underscores how the Republican Party’s internal contests for future leadership are already taking shape, with Vance leading the conversation in this particular measure.