Vance Wins 2028 Presidential Straw Poll With Pro-Life Groups
Vice President J.D. Vance is emerging as an early favorite among grassroots conservatives for the 2028 Republican presidential nomination, according to a straw poll conducted at the National Pro-Life Summit.
Organizers of the summit said Vance received the highest level of support from attendees when asked to identify their preferred GOP candidate for the next presidential cycle. The event, driven by pro-life advocacy organizations, drew activists and younger voters who consistently ranked abortion policy as a defining political issue.
Nearly half of those surveyed identified abortion as their single most important voting priority, while a strong majority placed it within their top two concerns — underscoring the enduring influence of the pro-life movement inside the Republican coalition.
“The dedicated grassroots of GOP activists—pro-life, youth voters—pick Vice President JD Vance as their top GOP presidential contender and flag CA Gov. Gavin Newsom as the possible leader of the Democratic Party,” said Students for Life Action President Kristan Hawkins in a statement, the Times noted. “Legislators take note: the campaign season has begun.”
While the poll carries no binding weight, organizers described it as an early snapshot of activist energy as the 2028 field slowly begins to take shape.
Other Republicans receiving support included Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and House Speaker Mike Johnson, though specific vote totals were not publicly released.
On the Democratic side, attendees identified California Gov. Gavin Newsom as the most likely standard-bearer for his party, placing him ahead of former Vice President Kamala Harris, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York.
The results come amid growing political maneuvering as both parties begin positioning for the post-Trump era — even as President Donald J. Trump continues to lead the country in his second term and remains the dominant force within the Republican Party.
Vance recently addressed thousands of pro-life advocates at the 53rd annual March for Life in Washington, D.C., where he encouraged activists not to lose heart amid ongoing debates over abortion policy and the pace of reform.
Speaking on the National Mall, the vice president acknowledged tensions within the movement over strategy and legislative outcomes but argued that internal debate strengthens accountability and long-term success.
He pointed to the historic 2022 Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade, noting that many younger activists have only known a post-Roe legal landscape — a dramatic shift from earlier generations who spent decades fighting to return abortion policy to elected representatives and voters.
Vance referenced both victories and setbacks experienced through ballot initiatives across the country, urging supporters to maintain perspective about the movement’s trajectory.
“We have made tremendous strides over the last year,” Vance said, while adding that significant work remains ahead.
He reaffirmed that the Trump administration remains committed to advancing pro-life priorities, including reviewing the safety standards surrounding mifepristone — the first drug used in medication abortions — and reconsidering policies that allow abortion pills to be distributed through the mail.
Vance also highlighted steps the administration has taken to reverse abortion-related policies enacted under President Biden, including ending federal prosecutions of pro-life activists charged in connection with demonstrations outside abortion facilities.
For grassroots conservatives gathered at the summit, the message was clear: the pro-life movement remains energized, organized, and deeply influential — and Vice President Vance currently stands at the forefront of its future leadership bench.
As 2028 speculation accelerates, one thing is certain: the battle over life, federal authority, and the moral direction of the country will remain central to the Republican Party’s identity in the years ahead.