Vice President J.D. Vance captured 53 percent of the vote in the Conservative Political Action Conference's straw poll for the 2028 Republican presidential nomination on Saturday. Secretary of State Marco Rubio placed second with 35 percent, a sharp rise from his 3 percent showing in the previous year.

The unscientific poll drew responses from more than 1,600 attendees, a record turnout for a non-presidential election year, at the Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center in Grapevine, Texas. Vance's victory marks the second straight year he has led the CPAC poll, though his support dipped from 61 percent in 2025. That earlier survey took place in Oxon Hill, Maryland.

Rubio's strong performance underscores his growing profile within conservative circles as discussions intensify about the post-Trump era. No other candidate exceeded 2 percent: former Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Donald Trump Jr. tied at 2 percent, while Senators Ted Cruz and Rand Paul, Texas Governor Greg Abbott, Fox News host Pete Hegseth, and former Democratic Representative Tulsi Gabbard each received 1 percent.

Conference organizers presented the results late Saturday as a sign of cohesion among conservatives, countering reports of rifts over U.S. involvement in the Iran conflict and support for Israel. Speakers at the four-day event, including Senator Cruz and Iranian Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, voiced firm backing for the war effort.

CPAC remains a key barometer of grassroots conservative sentiment, though past straw polls have offered mixed predictive power. Donald Trump dominated the surveys in the years leading to his 2024 victory, while earlier winners like Rand Paul in 2013 and Mitt Romney in 2007-2008 went on to mixed results.

Vance, who served as Trump's running mate in 2024 and now holds the vice presidency, has positioned himself as a leading heir to the MAGA mantle. Rubio, elevated to secretary of state in the current administration, has leveraged his foreign policy role and Senate experience to broaden his appeal.

The poll reflects early jockeying for the 2028 Republican primary as President Trump's second term advances. Conservative activists at the conference debated the party's future direction, with Vance and Rubio emerging as focal points.