Steve Bannon at 2017 CPAC by Michael Vadon
By Exec Edge Editorial Staff
A recent report from RealClearPolling revealed that the 2028 GOP field may be less narrow than expected, effectively bringing a number of unconventional potential contenders – from Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin to former Trump aide John McEntee – to the fore as analysts look to predict the next general.
Trump told NBC News in an interview last week that a JD Vance/Marco Rubio ticket would be “hard to beat” but stopped short of offering any endorsement or naming a successor.
That openness matters because it creates space not only for familiar names, but also for less conventional contenders, including figures whose influence has been built outside traditional elected office.
In 2028 Republican primary polling, Vance currently leads by a wide margin – ahead of Donald Trump Jr., Marco Rubio, and Ron DeSantis by about 30 points. But the RealClear analysis cautions that these numbers should be taken with a grain of salt: early primary polling often reflects name recognition more than settled voter preference. The more important signal is structural: Trump is not designating an heir, and the party is entering a transition period where multiple factions may compete to define what comes next.
A Crowded Bench, Different Lanes
RealClearPolitics’s Jonathan Draegar outlined the distinct wings of the Republican Party that could produce serious contenders.
On the hawkish foreign policy side, Sen. Ted Cruz is cited as someone “seriously” considering a run, particularly as debates over Iran and interventionism intensify within the right. Nikki Haley could occupy a similar lane, as she did in 2024.
Governors like Glenn Youngkin (VA) and Ron DeSantis (FL) may also see viable paths, especially if Republicans want a more disciplined executive style without Trump himself on the ballot.
Meanwhile, the populist-media wing, represented by figures such as Steve Bannon and Tucker Carlson, continues to push a more isolationist, nationalist agenda, often clashing with the emerging pro-tech faction on the right.
This fragmentation suggests that 2028 may not be a simple succession, but a showdown over the future of the Republican coalition.
The Opening for an Outsider
One of the most notable arguments in the analysis is that growing disillusionment, even among parts of Trump’s own base, could create the opportunity for an outsider candidate to rise quickly.
The article points to a January New York Times poll showing young voters (18–29) shifting dramatically over Trump’s first year, moving from -8 net support at the time of the election to roughly -42 one year later. Economist/YouGov polling also shows Trump’s approval falling among moderates and softening even among 2024 Trump voters.
That volatility leaves a sizable pool of independents, young voters, and Republicans potentially available for a candidate who is not already locked into the party’s existing hierarchy.
Draeger’s article surfaced John McEntee and Marjorie Taylor Greene as potential ‘dark horse’ contenders who can win back these voters that Trump has recently lost.
During Trump’s first term, McEntee served as the president’s “body man,” a role that placed him in constant proximity to the Oval Office. He later became Director of the White House Presidential Personnel Office, overseeing staffing decisions across the federal bureaucracy, a position central to Trump’s efforts to shape the executive branch.
Outside government, McEntee has built a parallel identity as an entrepreneur and public-facing figure as the face of @daterightstuff on TikTok, an account with more than 2 billion views and 3.2 million followers.
McEntee’s trajectory reflects a broader shift in how political influence is built. Rather than rising through governorships or Senate committees, a new class of Republican-aligned figures has emerged through media ecosystems, online platforms, and proximity to Trump-world power.
The mention of Steve Bannon and John McEntee alongside senators, governors and congressmen underscores how unpredictable the next cycle could become. However, if the 2028 election, like so many other American institutions, is shaped by cultural influence, digital reach, and generational realignment, dark horse candidates may not be anomalies – they could be central to the narrative and less unlikely than they currently seem.
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