Turning Point USA Mobilizes Early Campaign Strategy to Secure JD Vance as 2028 Republican Nominee

By Charlie McCarthy | Monday, 29 December 2025 01:41 PM EST

Turning Point USA is reportedly preparing an early campaign blitz across all 99 Iowa counties to build a robust infrastructure for Vice President JD Vance’s potential nomination as the Republican Party’s presidential candidate in 2028. The effort aims to establish Vance ahead of the first-in-the-nation caucuses, with insiders stating it seeks to create an early advantage that could deter a fractured primary and “short-circuit” a contentious nomination process.

This initiative follows the recent death of Turning Point’s founder, Charlie Kirk, who was killed by an assassin in September—nearly a year after his movement helped President Donald Trump return to power. Now, TPUSA appears poised to channel that grassroots energy toward ensuring JD Vance leads the next chapter of the America First coalition.

At TPUSA’s recent AmericaFest event in Arizona, Vance delivered a speech emphasizing party unity and a broader coalition, urging conservatives to avoid “endless, self-defeating purity tests” while framing the movement as one of “free thinkers,” not “drones.” He also warned Republicans were already planning for 2028.

The shift accelerated when Erika Kirk, Charlie Kirk’s widow and TPUSA’s current CEO, publicly endorsed Vance. She described the organization as “locked in and mission-focused” for both 2026 and 2028, outlining a strategy to build a “red wall” in battleground regions. Her most direct pledge was: “We are going to get my husband’s friend JD Vance elected for ‘28 in the most resounding way possible.”

An AmericaFest straw poll found 84% of attendees supported Vance, though broader public polling reveals the race remains fluid. A CNN survey indicated Vance holds a plurality of Republican backing at 22%, with other potential candidates in single digits and 64% of respondents expressing no specific preference. This suggests significant room for emerging rivals, even as TPUSA aims to consolidate support ahead of the 2028 election.