{"id":2641100,"date":"2026-08-05T16:30:01","date_gmt":"2026-08-05T20:30:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/rubio-bests-vance-in-western-conservative-summit-2028-straw-poll\/"},"modified":"2026-08-05T16:32:12","modified_gmt":"2026-08-05T20:32:12","slug":"rubio-bests-vance-in-western-conservative-summit-2028-straw-poll","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/rubio-bests-vance-in-western-conservative-summit-2028-straw-poll\/","title":{"rendered":"Rubio bests Vance in Western Conservative Summit 2028 straw poll"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Frubio-bests-vance-in-western-conservative-summit-2028-straw-poll%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2641100&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>At the Western Conservative Summit hosted by the Centennial Institute at Colorado Christian University, Secretary of State Marco Rubio emerged as the leading candidate in a nonpartisan straw poll for the 2028 presidential race, outperforming other would-be candidates. The summit, drawing over 500 conservative attendees, focused on themes of renewing American ideals. Rubio received 85% approval from participants for their preferred candidate list, with JD vance close behind at 71%, and Ron DeSantis at 55%. Elon Musk and Tucker Carlson both garnered 5%, while prominent democrats like Kamala Harris and Gavin Newsom had minimal support, at 0% and 1%, respectively. When asked to choose their top candidate, Rubio again led with 57%, followed by Vance with 21%. the event underscored Rubio\u2019s strong grassroots backing, with the director of the Centennial Institute praising his leadership and record.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Secretary of State <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/marco-rubio\/\">Marco Rubio<\/a> came out on top in this past weekend\u2019s nonpartisan straw poll at the Western Conservative Summit, outpacing a packed field of would-be <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/2028-elections\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/2028-elections\">2028<\/a> presidential hopefuls.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hosted by the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/centennial.ccu.edu\/press\/western-conservative-summit-straw-poll-sends-early-2028-signal\/\">Centennial Institute<\/a>, Colorado Christian University\u2019s public policy think tank, the summit ranks among the largest annual gatherings of conservatives in the Western United States, with this year\u2019s summit drawing over 500 attendees under the theme, \u201c<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/centennial.ccu.edu\/western-conservative-summit-2026\/\">A New Birth of Freedom: Reigniting the American Dream<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/presidential\/4676389\/rubio-crushes-vance-western-conservative-summit-2028-straw-poll\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Rubio crushes Vance in Western Conservative Summit 2028 straw poll<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4674937\/trump-returns-california-newsom-feud-escalates-2028-national-profile-escalated\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Trump returns to California as Newsom feud escalates ahead of 2028<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/presidential\/4671719\/kamala-haris-abolish-electoral-college-expand-supreme-court\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Kamala Harris signals support for abolishing Electoral College and expanding Supreme Court<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With a list of 27 potential 2028 candidates across the political spectrum, attendees were asked to select every candidate they approve of for the 2028 presidential race, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/centennial.ccu.edu\/press\/western-conservative-summit-straw-poll-sends-early-2028-signal\/\">according to<\/a> a Centennial Institute press release.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Rubio topped that particular question with 85%, while Vice President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/jd-vance\/\">JD Vance<\/a> had 71%. Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) had 55%, while nobody else in the Republican field cleared 30%. Tech billionaire and X owner <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/elon-musk\/\">Elon Musk<\/a> scored 5% while conservative pundit Tucker Carlson, who is <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/TuckerCarlson\/status\/2084790786038661589\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/x.com\/TuckerCarlson\/status\/2084790786038661589\">teasing the launch of a third party<\/a>, scored the same. Unsurprisingly, prominent Democrats didn\u2019t fare well, with former Vice President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/kamala-harris\/\">Kamala Harris<\/a> garnering 0%. Gov. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/gavin-newsom\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"1426\">Gavin Newsom<\/a> (D-CA) fared a little better with 1%, while top of the tree was Gov. Josh Shapiro (D-PA) with just 3%.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A second question narrowed things further, asking attendees to pick their top choice from the same slate of candidates, with Rubio dominating with 57% support over runner-up Vance, who received 21%.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/entertainment\/4672236\/marco-rubio-college-football-game\/\"><strong>MARCO RUBIO\u2019S DREAM WEEK OFF: \u2018WATCHING EVERY COLLEGE FOOTBALL GAME\u2019<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Greg Schaller, director of the Centennial Institute, praised Rubio\u2019s showing, framing it as grassroots validation of his record.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cMarco Rubio is a leader who has spent his career defending the principles of faith, family, and freedom without wavering,\u201d Schaller said. \u201cSecretary Rubio has earned this trust the hard way, and this Summit\u2019s grassroots are telling him, loud and clear, that they\u2019re behind him.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Rubio leads 2028 straw poll at Western Conservative Summit<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4275,"featured_media":2641101,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP26216553594664_d9cdd2-e1785953128870.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[3911,5438,40304,15469,83737],"class_list":["post-2641100","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-republican","tag-rubio","tag-straw-poll","tag-vance","tag-western-conservative-summit"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP26216553594664_d9cdd2-e1785953128870.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2641100","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4275"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2641100"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2641100\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2641103,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2641100\/revisions\/2641103"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2641101"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2641100"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2641100"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2641100"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}