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5d ago

CPAC 2026 Ends With Vance Leading 2028 Straw Poll, Rubio Rising

The Trump-focused event revealed fractures over the Iran war.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks during the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Grapevine, Texas, on March 27, 2026
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Sen. John Cornyn R-Texas walks through the Capitol Rotunda on Capitol Hill on Friday, March 20, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Tom Brenner)
CPAC is a rampart of Trump’s political movement and it wasn’t hard to find attendees who are all-in for what Trump has at times called a war, at others an “excursion” and, more recently, a “military operation.”

Overview

  • CPAC’s straw poll announced Saturday put Vice President JD Vance at 53% and Secretary of State Marco Rubio at 35% for 2028, with both officials skipping the Texas gathering.
  • President Trump stayed away, yet the program revolved around him, with loud cheers for his border crackdown and an onstage cheer for “impeachment hearings” highlighting confusion in the crowd.
  • Debate over the Iran campaign surfaced as Matt Gaetz warned against a ground war and Steve Bannon said Americans must be convinced before any troop deployments.
  • Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton drew fervent backing, securing a CPAC endorsement and leading Sen. John Cornyn in conference polling ahead of their May 26 runoff.
  • Young conservatives were in short supply and many voiced doubts about the Iran war, citing costs to attend, an older crowd, and fears the split could damage GOP chances in the midterms.