Vice President JD Vance emerged as the leading choice for the Republican presidential nomination in a recent straw poll conducted at the National Pro-Life Summit, according to event organizers. The informal vote, held among attendees of the gathering of pro-life advocacy groups and activists, asked participants to identify their preferred Republican candidate for the 2028 presidential election. Vance received the highest share of support among those surveyed, placing him ahead of several other potential contenders widely viewed as considering future bids for the White House. While the poll is nonbinding and limited to summit participants, organizers described the outcome as an early snapshot of sentiment within a key segment of the Republican base as the next presidential cycle gradually comes into focus.

The National Pro-Life Summit brought together grassroots activists, students, and advocacy leaders from across the country, many of whom rank abortion policy as their top political priority. According to organizers, nearly half of respondents identified abortion as their single most important voting issue, while a significant majority placed it among their top two concerns. That emphasis shaped the straw poll’s results, with Vance benefiting from his high-profile advocacy on abortion-related issues and his frequent engagement with socially conservative audiences. The summit’s attendees, described as heavily composed of youth activists and grassroots organizers, represent a faction of the Republican coalition that has played an influential role in primary elections and party platform debates.

In a statement reported by The Times, Students for Life Action President Kristan Hawkins underscored the broader political message she believes the results send. “The dedicated grassroots of GOP activists—pro-life, youth voters—pick Vice President JD Vance as their top GOP presidential contender and flag CA Gov. Gavin Newsom as the possible leader of the Democratic Party,” Hawkins said. “Legislators take note: the campaign season has begun.” Her remarks framed the straw poll not merely as a symbolic exercise but as a signal to elected officials and prospective candidates that the pro-life movement is actively assessing the 2028 field. Though no formal campaigns have been launched, early positioning and coalition-building are already underway among potential aspirants in both parties.

Other Republican figures also drew support in the poll, though organizers did not release detailed vote totals or a full ranking breakdown. Among those mentioned as receiving backing were Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and House Speaker Mike Johnson. Each has cultivated ties to socially conservative voters and has taken public positions on abortion and related cultural issues. The absence of precise percentages leaves unclear how wide Vance’s margin of support was, but organizers emphasized that he stood clearly at the top among summit participants. The poll also included a question about likely Democratic contenders, with respondents naming California Governor Gavin Newsom as their anticipated Democratic nominee, ahead of former Vice President Kamala Harris, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York.

The straw poll results come amid growing political interest in the 2028 presidential contest, even as the current administration continues its term. Potential candidates in both parties are increasingly visible at major gatherings, policy forums, and activist events where they can test messages and measure grassroots enthusiasm. For pro-life advocates, the issue remains central following the Supreme Court’s 2022 decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which overturned Roe v. Wade and returned abortion policy decisions to the states. That ruling reshaped the legal landscape and intensified political debates at both the state and federal levels, making abortion policy a defining issue in recent election cycles. Activists at the summit indicated that they are closely watching how prospective presidential candidates articulate their positions in this evolving environment.

Vance has continued to engage directly with pro-life audiences, including an address to thousands of advocates at the 53rd annual March for Life in Washington. Speaking on the National Mall, he acknowledged internal debates within the movement about strategy and the pace of policy change. He said he understood frustrations among activists who feel progress has not come quickly enough and characterized disagreements as a natural part of democratic advocacy. Vance urged attendees to remain encouraged, referencing scripture and highlighting what he described as significant strides made in recent years while emphasizing that additional work lies ahead. He also pointed to generational differences within the movement, noting that younger activists have grown up in a post-Roe legal landscape, while older advocates spent decades pushing for the court’s reversal of Roe. In outlining administration actions, Vance cited steps he said were taken to reverse abortion-related policies implemented under the previous administration, including ending certain prosecutions of pro-life activists and reviewing regulations surrounding abortion medication.