At the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) this past weekend, Vice President Vance was overwhelmingly seen as the leading candidate to carry on President Trump’s MAGA legacy. A straw poll conducted among 1,022 attendees revealed that a remarkable 61% of respondents expressed support for Vance as the future face of the Republican Party. This strong backing places him as the clear frontrunner for those who remain committed to President Trump’s America First agenda.
Other potential candidates garnered much less support. Steve Bannon, former advisor to President Trump and a prominent voice in conservative media, captured 12% of the vote. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, a favorite among some Republicans, garnered only 7%. Meanwhile, Senator Marco Rubio and Representative Elise Stefanik—who has gained significant prominence in the Trump administration—each received 3% of the straw poll vote.
A range of other potential candidates including Donald Trump Jr., Gabbard, and Ramaswamy each saw 2% support. Other notable figures like Arkansas Governor Sarah Sanders, Senator Rick Scott of Florida, and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem received only 1% each. Four percent of those polled remained undecided about the future direction of the party.
The straw poll, conducted by Republican pollster Jim McLaughlin, also highlighted the unwavering loyalty of CPAC attendees to President Trump, with 99% expressing approval of his leadership. Of that group, 95% voiced strong approval.
Vance, who kicked off the event as the first speaker, has garnered significant attention for his leadership in promoting conservative values, while President Trump is slated to close out CPAC on Saturday, reinforcing his continued dominance in the party. Despite speculation about succession, Trump recently told Fox News that it was “too early” to discuss his successor but praised Vance as a “very capable” leader, leaving the door open for a future in which Vance could rise to the top of the Republican ticket.