Forget JD Vance and Marco Rubio. MAGA voters keep naming this one MAGA woman for 2028: ‘I would vote for her in a minute’

The 2028 presidential race is already picking up steam, and a recent focus group survey by Republican political consultant Sarah Longwell has produced a surprising result: Candace Owens is emerging as a serious contender among MAGA voters. According to Longwell, Owens, 37, has been gaining support as a potential Trump successor, and her popularity does not seem to be slowing down.

According to The Daily Beast, Longwell’s focus groups have been revealing some unexpected findings. Last year, Mycal, a Biden-to-Trump voter from North Carolina, told Longwell’s group, “I think Candace Owens is great. I would vote for her in a minute.” Rex, a voter from California, shared a similar view, saying, “People say she’s nutty, I don’t think she’s nutty. I think she’s very well-grounded.”

One of the more notable signs of Owens’ broader appeal came recently when she hosted Hunter Biden for an interview on her show. Longwell sees this as a sign of her crossover appeal, which is notable given that Owens has largely turned against the MAGA mainstream that originally made her famous.

Candace Owens’ falling out with Trump has done little to hurt her standing with his base

Before her falling out with Trump, Owens was one of his most vocal supporters. The break came after she refused to drop a debunked claim about Brigitte Macron’s past. Trump personally called her and asked her to take back the statement, but she refused. The Macrons then sued her in July 2025. Trump responded harshly, calling her attack on Brigitte Macron “despicable” and labeling Owens “an extremely Low IQ individual.”

Since then, Owens has become a regular target of Laura Loomer, the far-right activist widely seen as Trump’s online attack dog. The two have been going back and forth for months, and Owens has become an open critic of Trump’s policies. Despite all of this, her support among MAGA voters has remained strong.

Owens first built her name as a Turning Point USA figure, known for her conservative views and willingness to say things others would not. Her popularity continued to grow even after she clashed with fellow MAGA influencer Charlie Kirk, with many voters praising her for being sharp and willing to challenge the mainstream.

As the 2028 race takes shape, Owens is clearly a name that MAGA voters keep coming back to, even as more established figures like Marco Rubio are also in the conversation. JD Vance is another name frequently mentioned, though he has recently been at the center of misleading media reports about his Pentagon stance that he has pushed back on. Owens’ ability to hold onto her base while also reaching across to other audiences makes her a figure worth watching.

Whether Owens will officially enter the 2028 race is still unknown, but the focus group data suggests she has real support on the ground. Vance, meanwhile, has had his own awkward moments on the campaign trail, including telling a crowd to vote against his own leadership, which did little to strengthen his 2028 prospects. For a growing number of Republican voters, Owens is not just a media personality but a genuine political option.