Right-wing podcaster Candace Owens has unexpectedly gained traction as a potential Republican candidate for the 2028 presidential election, according to focus group research conducted by political consultant Sarah Longwell. Longwell, founder of The Bulwark and an anti-Trump strategist, reported that Owens has become “one of the break-out media stars of our era” and is frequently mentioned by voters as a possible future president.
In focus groups held across the country, several voters expressed support for Owens. A North Carolina Trump voter named Mycal said, “I think Candace Owens is great. I would vote for her in a minute.” Another Biden-to-Trump voter from North Carolina, Daniela, stated, “If we would’ve swapped out Candace for Kamala, they would’ve had this in the bag,” referring to Kamala Harris’s 2024 campaign. Kim, a Gen Z Trump voter from Virginia, added, “I’m sure I’ll catch a lot of flack for this one, but I am a Candace Owens fan. I think she’s a very smart lady.”
Owens, once a loyal supporter of Donald Trump, has stirred controversy with unfounded conspiracy theories, including claims that Israel was involved in the assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk and that French first lady Brigitte Macron is transgender. She is currently being sued for defamation by French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife over these allegations. Trump himself has publicly criticised Owens, sharing an AI-generated image of her on Truth Social and calling her an “extremely Low IQ individual.”
Despite the backlash, Owens embraced the focus group data, posting on X: “Wow. Looks like President Trump’s attempt to publicly shame me with a photo of me fighting an illness had the opposite desired effect. 10/10 would recommend!” She has previously floated the idea of running for president, writing in 2021, “I love America. Thinking about running for President.”
However, recent polls suggest Owens has not yet broken into the top tier of potential Republican candidates. Vice President JD Vance leads with 32 percent support, followed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio at 15 percent, Donald Trump Jr. at 13 percent, and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis at 6 percent, according to an analysis by The New York Times.
