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Vance Wins CPAC Straw Poll, but Rubio Gains Steam Among MAGA Faithful
The New York Times ^ | March 28, 2026 | Kellen Browning

Posted on 03/28/2026 3:39:37 PM PDT by MinorityRepublican

Vice President JD Vance won this year’s straw poll of attendees at the Conservative Political Action Conference, with 53 percent of respondents saying he was their preferred choice in the 2028 Republican presidential primary.

The figure, announced by organizers on Saturday, was a slight drop from his 61 percent support in last year’s poll, and it came as Secretary of State Marco Rubio continued to emerge as a contender in early 2028 conversations. Mr. Rubio earned 35 percent of the vote at CPAC this year, a leap from his 3 percent in 2025.

The poll, which came as CPAC wrapped up its annual four-day conference featuring a deeply conservative grass-roots crowd, is unscientific and has not historically been a strong predictor of whom Republican voters will ultimately back in a contested primary.

President Trump easily won three straw polls in the years preceding his comeback victory in 2024. But Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky won the CPAC poll in three consecutive years ahead of the 2016 primary, then went on to drop out early in that campaign. And former Senator Mitt Romney of Utah won straw polls in 2007 and 2008 over the eventual nominee that election cycle, former Senator John McCain of Arizona. Mr. Romney won two straw polls in the lead-up to his successful primary bid in 2012, but lost two to former Representative Ron Paul, Rand Paul’s father.

No other candidate on Saturday received more than 2 percent of support from the more than 1,600 respondents, which organizers at CPAC said was a record for a nonpresidential year.

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Politics
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1 posted on 03/28/2026 3:39:37 PM PDT by MinorityRepublican
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To: MinorityRepublican

I’m for a Vance / Rubio ticket in 2028, and a Rubio/Desantis thicket there after.


2 posted on 03/28/2026 3:50:56 PM PDT by Robe
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To: Robe

I want DeSantis.


3 posted on 03/28/2026 3:53:44 PM PDT by Savage Beast (When the student is ready, the teacher appears. When the people are ready, the hero appears.)
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To: MinorityRepublican

Rubio has been excellent. It’s almost like he’s a different person than when he was running for pres.

Free Cuba!


4 posted on 03/28/2026 4:02:15 PM PDT by isthisnickcool (If the left was so damn smart why can't they answer simple questions?)
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To: MinorityRepublican

But…but…Rand Paul!


5 posted on 03/28/2026 4:18:25 PM PDT by bigbob (We are all Charlie Kirk now)
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To: MinorityRepublican
Rubio is not eligible since his parents were NOT U.S. citizens when he was born.

Yes, the uniparty green-lit him to run previously but that doesn't change the truth that he is NOT a natural born citizen.

6 posted on 03/28/2026 4:23:02 PM PDT by T.B. Yoits
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To: T.B. Yoits
Rubio is not eligible since his parents were NOT U.S. citizens when he was born.

According to who?

7 posted on 03/28/2026 4:24:18 PM PDT by MinorityRepublican
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To: T.B. Yoits

https://jonboeckenstedt.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/image.png


8 posted on 03/28/2026 4:27:13 PM PDT by daler
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To: Robe

Rubio is not going to play second fiddle to JD Vance. He’ll either run for President or go home and run for Governor of Florida.


9 posted on 03/28/2026 4:28:58 PM PDT by Georgia Girl 2 (The only purpose of a pistol is to fight your way back to the rifle you should never have dropped)
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To: MinorityRepublican

You mean the Cubano Canadian showed up and didn’t get a bump?


10 posted on 03/28/2026 4:41:22 PM PDT by Biblebelter
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To: T.B. Yoits

NEITHER WAS OBAMA.....

HIS HONOLULU BIRTH LISTS A HOSPITAL:

2 HOSPITALS MERGED ABOUT 5-6 YEARS AFTER HE WAS BORN.

THAT HOSPITAL NAME IS ON HIS “BIRTH CERTIFICATE”

VERY POORLY RESEARCHED FORGERY


11 posted on 03/28/2026 4:46:56 PM PDT by ridesthemiles (not giving up on TRUMP---EVER)
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To: T.B. Yoits

THEN, TECHNICALLY, THE SUCCESSION RULES WOULD HAVE TO LEAVE HIM OUT....


12 posted on 03/28/2026 4:48:01 PM PDT by ridesthemiles (not giving up on TRUMP---EVER)
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To: MinorityRepublican

I’ll take either one.


13 posted on 03/28/2026 4:50:00 PM PDT by roving
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To: bigbob

Rand Paul-Crazy Liz 2028.
Jeb Bush-Colin Powell would be slightly worse.


14 posted on 03/28/2026 5:07:25 PM PDT by Zathras
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To: MinorityRepublican

Well, Marco has been a pleasant surprise, and I could erasily see a Vance/Rubio ticket for 2028. we might even see a 16 year span for Republican control, if the voters get rid of the RINOs to finally get both Chambers of Congress to get a Congress that finally once again, works for the citizens only, o this nation., and for the ideals this nation was founded upon.


15 posted on 03/28/2026 5:32:09 PM PDT by Robert DeLong
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To: MinorityRepublican

Yeah, the new neocon maga’s are really into Little Marco.


16 posted on 03/28/2026 5:41:07 PM PDT by dforest
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To: T.B. Yoits

Sigh


17 posted on 03/28/2026 6:48:09 PM PDT by 3RIVRS
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To: T.B. Yoits

Neither was the Obozo but he was installed anyway.


18 posted on 03/28/2026 6:51:43 PM PDT by drypowder
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To: MinorityRepublican

I’m leaning toward Rubio , he’s doing a great job as sec of state.


19 posted on 03/28/2026 7:00:27 PM PDT by kenmcg (ti hi o)
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To: MinorityRepublican
I like Marco.

When he speaks he says something.

20 posted on 03/28/2026 8:27:46 PM PDT by HIDEK6 (God bless Donald Trump The )
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