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Republican Contenders Court Early-State Voters and Donors for 2028

President Trump's ineligibility under the 22nd Amendment has prompted senior Republicans to start building their campaign machinery.

Photo illustration: Lindsey Bailey/Axios. Photos: Bloomberg, Chris Somodevilla, Anna Moneymaker, Samuel Corum/Stringer, Bill Clark, Pool via Getty Images
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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.