Vice President JD Vance has done little to set himself apart from Trump. He has defended the administration’s policies, even when it requires reversing some of his positions. He has taken a leading role in fights with Democrats, including on the government shutdown and attacking critics of Charlie Kirk after the conservative activist was killed, part of a campaign that detractors described as an effort to crack down on free speech.
Republican voters seem to like what they are seeing: In a September YouGov poll, he tops the list of 2028 candidates they would consider voting for. His future in Republican politics could be a long one. At 41, he’s the youngest candidate on this list and one of the youngest vice presidents in history.
Marco Rubio: Trump’s secretary of state has presided over major international news: the Gaza peace talks, bombing Iran (which initially upset some in Trump’s base) and controversial cuts to foreign aid. Rubio isn’t top of voters’ minds in early polls about 2028, but Trump frequently mentions him as a successor: “Marco’s great,” Trump said, adding of Vance and Rubio: “I’m not sure if anybody would run against those two. I think if they formed a group, it would be unstoppable.”
The middle of the pack
Donald Trump Jr.: Trump’s eldest son has never held public office, but he is an adviser and confidant to his father. He seems to be making the case that he’s the rightful heir to MAGA, saying recently of his desire to run: “That calling is there. I think my father has truly changed the Republican Party. I think it’s the America First party now, the MAGA party, however you want to look at it.”
Ron DeSantis: Florida’s socially conservative, fiery Republican governor is also a candidate Republican-leaning voters say they’d consider in a primary, according to YouGov. He ran against Trump in the 2024 primaries and remains a fixture on Fox News and at conservative events. His run as governor of Florida ends in 2027, so he will have to build momentum for a presidential run while out of public office.
Ted Cruz: The senator from Texas was the last major candidate left standing against Trump in the 2016 GOP nominating contest. Cruz has since become all-in on Trump but has also been differentiating himself in small yet notable ways. He criticized the Trump administration’s threats to cancel late-night host Jimmy Kimmel over protected speech as “dangerous as hell.” He has warned against Trump’s tariffs and recently said he can’t support one of the president’s controversial picks for ambassador.
