The 2026 election is going to be a huge test not only for the Republican Party, but also for MAGA as the lead for the conservative movement.
Winning solves a lot of problems, but if the GOP gets pasted in the midterm cycle, that could shake MAGA and its leadership to the point that people may be looking beyond JD Vance for the top of the ticket in 2028.
My choice to lead the party would be Ron DeSantis, as I have stated many times, but there is another name that is starting to get some traction, and quite honestly, it could be a name to bring the entire party together again.
I will be the first to admit that I was surprised to see Vance named as the VP, especially when you consider the comments he made about Trump during the 2016 cycle.
Vance went from being a never-Trumper, lodging bombs at Trump, to his number one, likely at the behest of Donald Trump Jr., who had become friends with Vance.
Recently, Trump was asked who he would be handing the wheel to once his term was over. More specifically, he was asked about it being Vance.
Trump responded, “Well, I think most likely, in all fairness. He’s the vice president.”
There are generally three serious players for the 2028 cycle, that being Vance, who is dominating polling, Sec. of State Marco Rubio, who has quietly built up a very loyal base as Secretary of State, and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.
I have always been a DeSantis supporter, but I think Trump more or less ended any hopes DeSantis had of winning the White House during the 2024 cycle. As this has all played out, I think it would take the GOP imploding, taking a horrific loss in 2026 and 2028, for DeSantis to get back into that conversation. I see no way possible for DeSantis to lead the ticket again until 2032 because of how the 2024 race played out, and then only if Democrats win the White House in 2028.
Vance is well over 40% in all polls right now, so he is clearly the top dog, with DeSantis generally a distant second, followed closely by Rubio.
Having said that, if Vance does decide to run for president, Rubio would likely be his running mate, unless he reached out to his old buddy Vivek Ramaswamy. But I think Rubio is far more likable, and many conservatives in the party would never support Ramaswamy, and I count myself among them. I simply do not trust the man.
Now we have to start thinking about what it would look like in 2028 if the GOP loses the midterm elections, and who could possibly save the party in what would look like a suicide assignment.
The answer would not be DeSantis, as I think he would not risk the loss, and there would still need to be time for the wounds between his campaign and MAGA to heal. The name that is now being mentioned is former Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin.
The only possible way the GOP will be able to have a shot in 2028, if it loses the 2026 cycle, would be to put a true moderate at the top of the ticket that could win conservatives but also win over moderate independent and Democrat voters who did not want someone like Harris or Newsom in the White House.
Youngkin would also move the party away from the toxicity that now dominates it. He is not going to lob insults or use nicknames to make political hits. He is not going to curse, and he is not going to raise his voice. He just might be the calm hand the country needs to move forward. Myra Adams of The Hill makes a great case, and I would highly encourage everyone to read her report when they have a few minutes. I have to be honest… Youngkin was not even on my radar, but he is now.
