A. Marco Rubio
B. JD Vance
C. Ron DeSantis
D. Nikki Haley
Vice President JD Vance emerged as the top choice in the CPAC straw poll for the 2028 Republican presidential nomination, held in March 2026 in Grapevine, Texas.
According to the poll results announced on March 28, 2026, Vance secured 53% support from the more than 1,600 attendees surveyed. Secretary of State Marco Rubio finished second with 35%, showing a significant surge from his 3% showing in 2025. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis received just 2%, while other contenders like Ted Cruz, Pete Hegseth, and Tulsi Gabbard each garnered 1%.
While the CPAC straw poll is considered an early barometer of conservative enthusiasm, it has not historically been a reliable predictor of the eventual Republican nominee—as seen when Rand Paul won three consecutive polls before the 2016 primary but dropped out early.