Erika Kirk, the widow of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, endorsed Vice President JD Vance for the 2028 presidential election, promising to throw the weight of her influential organization behind his bid for the White House.

“We are going to get my husband’s friend JD Vance elected for 48 in the most resounding way possible,” she said, referring to the 48th president, as she gave a speech on Thursday that opened Turning Point USA’s annual national conference in Phoenix. Kirk took over the group when her husband was assassinated in September.

Vance has not announced plans to run for president, but speculation is well underway over which Republican could succeed President Donald Trump as the leader of the party.

The vice president has emerged as a front-runner, leading early surveys and betting-market predictions that explore potential primary matchups.

Even some possible primary opponents are already acknowledging his strength in the race. In comments published this week, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, widely considered to be another strong potential contender, signaled that he would defer to Vance.

“If JD Vance runs for president, he’s going to be our nominee, and I’ll be one of the first people to support him,” Rubio told Vanity Fair.

Trump has been noncommittal about anointing a successor with roughly three years left in his term, but he has praised both Vance and Rubio as top contenders for 2028.

Vance, Rubio Ticket?

“We have great people,” he told reporters on Air Force One in October, Politico reported. He gestured to Rubio, who was standing nearby. “One of them is standing right here.” He then praised Vance.

“Obviously JD is great, the vice president is great,” Trump said. “I’m not sure anyone would run against those two.”

The support of Turning Point USA could provide a significant boost to Vance if he decides to run, particularly among Trump’s MAGA base and younger voters. Beyond its big platform, the organization has ventured into the nuts and bolts of campaigning, activating its large membership in 2024 to knock on doors and encourage Republicans to vote by mail. Such an operation could prove especially beneficial early in a primary battle, when fundraising is still gaining steam and campaign apparatuses are more limited.

Since Kirk’s killing, Vance has made a point of showing support for Turning Point and for Erika Kirk, the widow of a man he called a “true friend.”

The vice president helped carry Kirk’s casket onto Air Force Two when it was flown from Utah, where he was killed, to his home state, Arizona.

Since then, Vance has hosted episodes of Kirk’s former podcast and joined Erika Kirk at the University of Mississippi for a stop on the group’s tour of college campuses.

Vance has said that Charlie Kirk long championed his career, encouraging him in 2021 to run for a Senate seat in Ohio. Charlie Kirk connected Vance with donors through Turning Point, coached him on his campaign pitch and encouraged Trump to choose him as his running mate, Vance recounted in a lengthy social media post.

In the months since the assassination, Erika Kirk has taken on an increasingly prominent role in conservative politics, opening up about her grief and promising to carry on her husband’s political mission.

Last month, Erika Kirk said her husband would have given his support to Vance.

“That was the thing that my husband was very direct about — it was, interestingly enough, one of the last few conversations we had — was how intentional he was about supporting JD for ’28,” she told Megyn Kelly, the conservative YouTube host.

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This article originally appeared in The New York Times.

By Lisa Lerer and Nick Corasaniti/Tom Brenner
c. 2025 The New York Times Company