Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin said Vice President JD Vance would be a “great nominee” in the 2028 presidential election. “As people speculate on what’s going to happen down the road in 2028, I agree with President Trump and [Secretary of State] Marco Rubio. I think JD Vance would make a great, great presidential nominee,” the Republican governor said in an interview on “Fox News Sunday.” BREAKING: Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin throws his support behind VP Vance — calling him a “great” Republican nominee for a potential White House run in 2028. pic.twitter.com/BT7TrPwsrP — Fox News (@FoxNews) January 11, 2026 Fox News has more: The answer by Youngkin, who’s been viewed the past two years by political pundits as a potential contender for the 2028 GOP presidential nomination, was the first time he’s publicly weighed in the next White House race. Youngkin’s “Fox News Sunday” interview came just days before completing his single term as governor of Virginia, which by law prevents governors from running for re-election and serving consecutive terms. While Vance has yet to say anything publicly on whether he’ll launch a 2028 campaign to succeed Trump, he is considered by many on the right to be the president’s heir apparent to eventually take over the MAGA and America First mantles. Vance was endorsed last month by Erika Kirk at an annual summit hosted by Turning Point USA, the increasingly influential and politically powerful conservative group. Vance is currently the overwhelming favorite to be the 2028 GOP presidential nominee. Some early 2028 GOP primary polls have Vance leading by 40+ points. Here’s a breakdown: CNN’s pollster Harry Enten reports JD Vance is the clear favorite to win the 2028 GOP nomination, according to prediction market odds. “Nobody else is even close.” “JD Vance is like Mario Andretti and the rest of the GOP is going around in go karts when it comes to 2028.”… pic.twitter.com/hzV4kJsrp9 — TV News Now (@TVNewsNow) December 30, 2025 Newsweek noted: While Vance is certainly storming ahead in early polls, there is still everything to play for as the primaries are around a year away. Rubio is still seen as a rival to Vance when it comes to the GOP nomination, however he has said that if Vance enters the race he would rule out entering himself. He said to Vanity Fair: “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.” That said, there is still want insiders have called a “proxy war” between the ‘Make America Great Again’ activist base and the camp of Rubio and Trump’s chief of staff Susie Wiles. Also, no Republican vice president has become the party’s presidential nominee in the 21st century, as former Vice President Dick Cheney decided not to run and Mike Pence’s campaign in 2024 only lasted for a few months. George H. W. Bush was the last Republican vice president to become the presidential nominee.