Overview

• President Trump has publicly mentioned Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio as potential successors, positioning them as early 2028 front-runners.
• Vance has leveraged his role as finance chair of the Republican National Committee to forge relationships with major donors through nationwide fundraising events.
• Rubio has used high-profile donor outreach and media appearances to expand his national profile in preparation for a possible presidential bid.
• Governors Glenn Youngkin, Kristi Noem and Sarah Huckabee Sanders are touring Iowa, South Carolina and New Hampshire to court grassroots and evangelical support.
• Senators Rand Paul, Ted Cruz and Tim Scott are activating their small-dollar networks, podcasts and party leadership roles to boost fundraising ahead of 2028.