Vice president secures majority support among conference attendees as early indicators of Republican preferences emerge
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Vice President JD Vance received the highest level of support in a straw poll of potential Republican presidential candidates conducted at this year’s Conservative Political Action Conference in Texas, according to results released Saturday.
The survey showed Vance securing 53% of the vote, placing him ahead of Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who received 35%, based on results reported in a CPAC straw poll. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Donald Trump Jr. each received 2%, while several other figures—including Sens. Ted Cruz and Rand Paul, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott—registered 1% support.
The results reflect a shift from the previous year’s poll, when Vance held a larger share at 61%, while Rubio drew 3% support. The latest outcome indicates increased backing for Rubio among conference participants compared to earlier polling.
As noted in the report, the CPAC straw poll is often viewed as an early indicator of sentiment among conservative activists regarding potential presidential candidates.
Despite their positions at the top of the poll, both Vance and Rubio have publicly downplayed the idea of direct competition. In an interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity, Vance said, “I don’t feel like that at all.”
“People have asked me, ‘Do you see Marco as a rival?’ And first of all, if either of us end up running, it’s a long ways in the future, and neither of us is entitled to it. So I think it would be ridiculous for me to say Marco is a rival. No, Marco is a colleague,” Vance said.
Rubio has expressed a similar stance. In comments to Vanity Fair, he said he would be “one of the first people to support” Vance if the vice president chooses to run for the White House in 2028.
The CPAC straw poll results provide an early snapshot of preferences among conservative conference attendees as discussions about future leadership within the Republican Party continue.
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