Candace Owens Showing Strong Polling Results for 2028
For years, the conversation surrounding Donald Trump’s political successor inside the MAGA movement has revolved around familiar names: JD Vance, Marco Rubio, Ron DeSantis, Tucker Carlson, perhaps even a member of the Trump family itself. But according to one longtime Republican political consultant, another name keeps surfacing in focus groups — and it’s catching even seasoned operatives off guard.
Candace Owens.
The conservative commentator and media personality, once best known for viral clips and campus speeches through Turning Point USA, is reportedly emerging as a figure with surprising traction among some Trump voters searching for the next standard-bearer of populist conservatism.
Sarah Longwell, the Republican strategist who now runs the anti-Trump outlet The Bulwark, says Owens’ name repeatedly appears in focus groups she conducts with Republican and swing voters. Longwell, despite being one of Trump’s most vocal conservative critics, acknowledged that Owens commands real admiration from portions of the MAGA base.
One voter from North Carolina reportedly told Longwell last year, “I think Candace Owens is great. I would vote for her in a minute.”
Another participant from California defended Owens against criticism by saying, “People say she’s nutty, I don’t think she’s nutty. I think she’s very well-grounded.”
That kind of support might sound surprising to political insiders, but it reflects the unusual state of the Republican Party heading toward 2028. Trump remains the dominant force in conservative politics, but growing fractures inside the MAGA coalition are creating uncertainty about who can inherit the movement once he exits the stage.
Vice President JD Vance has positioned himself as one of the administration’s more skeptical voices on foreign intervention, particularly regarding Iran, but reports suggest even he may be reconsidering a presidential bid. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has gained influence inside the administration, though many America First conservatives view him suspiciously because of his foreign policy instincts.
That vacuum has opened space for outsider figures with media influence rather than traditional political résumés.
Owens fits that mold perfectly.
Her rise accelerated dramatically following the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk in September 2025. In the aftermath, Owens embraced a string of explosive and controversial claims, including allegations involving Israel’s role in the killing. Those comments generated enormous backlash, including from many conservatives, but according to Longwell’s focus groups, they did not destroy Owens’ appeal among some Trump-aligned voters.
Several participants reportedly praised her intelligence, confidence, and willingness to challenge establishment narratives.
One Pennsylvania Trump voter described Owens as “extremely articulate” and praised her for “investigating things.” A younger voter from Virginia bluntly stated, “I am a Candace Owens fan. I think she’s a very smart lady.”
At the same time, Owens has become deeply polarizing even within MAGA circles. Some voters in Longwell’s groups dismissed her as consumed by conspiracy theories, particularly after her public feud involving French President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron. Owens repeatedly promoted the false claim that Brigitte Macron was born male, leading the Macrons to file a lawsuit against her in 2025.
That controversy reportedly strained her relationship with Trump himself. Owens has claimed Trump personally called her asking her to stop pushing the allegation. She refused. Months later, Trump publicly attacked her on Truth Social, calling her claims “despicable” and referring to Owens as “an extremely Low IQ individual.”
The split marked a remarkable reversal given Owens had once been among Trump’s most loyal and energetic defenders.
Now she increasingly occupies an odd political space: still admired by portions of the MAGA grassroots while simultaneously feuding with some of Trump’s closest allies and media defenders, including Laura Loomer.
Whether Owens could ever mount a serious presidential campaign is another question entirely. She has no elected experience, carries enormous controversy, and would face resistance from both establishment Republicans and many traditional conservatives. But the fact that her name keeps surfacing in Republican voter discussions says something important about the current state of the right.
The Republican base remains deeply drawn to media personalities, populist rhetoric, and outsider figures willing to wage cultural and political warfare without apology. In that environment, conventional political résumés matter less than influence, visibility, and the ability to command attention.
And few conservative media figures command attention quite like Candace Owens.