An unexpected development has begun to take shape in the American political scene, as the early race for the Republican Party’s 2028 presidential nomination has added a strong rival to Vice President JD Vance. According to the latest analysis and sources close to the campaigns, current Secretary of State Marco Rubio is gaining broad and consistent support among Republican voters, especially in key early voting states like Iowa.
JD Vance has long been considered Donald Trump’s natural successor and the closest representative of the MAGA movement. However, Rubio, a former Florida senator and 2016 presidential candidate, is emerging as a strong and experienced opponent on the ground.
CNN analyst Eric Bradner said Rubio has become part of President Trump's inner circle and is increasingly seen as a figure who could lead the continuation of the MAGA movement. "I was struck during a recent visit to Iowa by the way Rubio's name was often mentioned in the same sentence as JD Vance. Both are now considered team players, closely associated with Trump and his administration," Bradner said. He noted that Rubio has the advantage of experience in presidential races and has long built relationships with Republican voters in early voting states. "Many of them remember Rubio from the 2016 campaign, when he finished third in Iowa," Bradner added.
On the other hand, JD Vance, while popular with the Republican base, is still perceived as a relatively new figure on the national political scene and someone who has yet to prove himself in a major presidential race. “They haven’t had a chance to get to know him in the classic campaign sense. Rubio has done that before,” Bradner said. Rubio himself has publicly avoided any direct comment on his presidential ambitions, stressing that he fully supports JD Vance in his current role as vice president. “I think JD Vance would be a great candidate if he decided to enter the race. He’s a close friend and he’s doing a great job,” Rubio told Fox News.
Meanwhile, although President Trump remains the central and emblematic figure of the MAGA movement, the US Constitution does not allow him to run for a third term. Despite this, he has continued to publicly suggest his desire to continue to exert political influence in decision-making within the Republican Party and in future elections.
The race for Trump's successor has really begun, and it seems that Marco Rubio and JD Vance are the most talked-about names to lead the post-Trump era in the Republican Party. Developments in the coming months will be crucial in shaping the 2028 presidential campaign.
