Melissa Cole from Tulsa wore her sequined jacket celebrating President Donald Trump’s “golden era” to the Republican midterm convention in Dallas.
The president used a similar phrase in his January 2025 inauguration speech, declaring the start of the “golden age of America” as he began his second term in the White House after losing the 2020 election to former President Joe Biden.
As the convention attendee sees it, Trump should also serve a third term.
“Donald Trump,” Cole says definitively, when asked who she’d like to see as the 2028 Republican nominee for commander in chief.
That’s not allowed, per the U.S. constitution, but Cole believes the contest against Biden in 2020 was “stolen.” That warrants more investigation, she explained Thursday as Republicans pitched their midterm candidates to the nation for a second straight day.
“And then I think we need to give that back to President Trump,” Cole said. “He earned that. We know that he won that election, so I think that’s why you’ll see him as the 2028 president.”
President Donald Trump walks out to give the closing remarks of the 2026 Republican Convention on Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026 at American Airlines Center in Dallas. Abigail Dollins Fort Worth Star-Telegram
The 2026 midterm elections were front-and-center at this week’s Republican convention in Dallas, but some attendees were already thinking ahead to the next presidential election year, when — despite Cole’s preferences — Trump’s time in the White House winds down and a new GOP leader is named as the party’s presidential nominee.
The names most often floated in conversations with attendees were Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Neither have announced a bid, but they routinely come up in the mix of potential 2028 GOP presidential candidates.
“I’m kind of at this point a little torn,” said Deb Spencer, who lives in Wise County. “I would be very happy if it was JD Vance, but I’d also be very happy if it was Marco Rubio.”
The preferences align with recent polls that generally have Vance as the leading pick, followed by Rubio.
Vance helped close out the second and final day of the convention. While he spoke, an attendee’s comment broke through the hum of an enthusiastic crowd at the Republican midterm convention in Dallas: “JD 48.” The words of encouragement were met with cheers and chants of support from the crowd.
Vance brushed off the remark, shifting focus back to the midterms as Republicans fight to keep control of Congress.
“We got to take care of business this November,” Vance said. “Then we’ll worry about what comes next.”
Vice President JD Vance gives the keynote address on night two of the 2026 Republican Convention on Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026 at American Airlines Center in Dallas. Abigail Dollins Fort Worth Star-Telegram
One attendee said it’s too early to say who he wants on the ballot in 2028, and another wanted to wait and see who Trump endorses before deciding.
Sherry Fayo from Springtown wants a Vance presidency with Rubio as his vice president. Ideally, Vance would serve eight years and then Rubio would serve two terms after that, she said.
“Rubio is probably the smartest man in this flipping country,” said Andrea Watkins, who lives in Rusk, adding: “I would vote for him if he ran.”
Watkins, who said she also likes Vance, has been a fan of Rubio since his 2016 presidential bid. That year, she was impressed by the then-Florida senator. She also liked Texas Sen.Ted Cruz, who was also running for president and whose name is sometimes mentioned in 2028 crystal balls. (Watkins wasn’t a fan of Trump at the time, but he’s won her over, she said.)
She complimented Rubio’s “good attitude” and described him as smart, articulate and knowledgeable.
“He’s not too over-crazy on one end or too passive on another,” Watkins said.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks to the press outside the U.S. embassy in Quito, Ecuador, September 9, 2026. Dolores Ochoa/Pool via REUTERS Dolores Ochoa via REUTERS
Spencer, the Wise County resident who is torn between Rubio and Vance, praised Rubio’s handling of the conflict in Iran and sees him as someone who’d be very able as a president. At the same time, Vance has done a “phenomenal job” leading fraud investigations, Spencer said.
“That’s what the American people need to see,” she said. “They need to see him really active, and not just being this quiet little vice president that we don’t ever know what he’s really supposed to be doing.”
Attendees expressed a desire for Trump’s agenda to continue past 2028 — even if he’s not on the ticket.
Brad Book from Argyle sees Vance as the pick to “carry the torch” post Trump. Rubio would also be good, he said.
“Whoever wins the Republican [nomination] is who I’m going to support,” he said.
As Bill Key from Weatherford put it: “As long as it’s not a Democrat.”
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Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Eleanor (Elly) Dearman is a Texas politics and government reporter for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. She’s based in Austin, covering the Legislature and its impact on North Texas. She grew up in Denton and has been a reporter for more than six years.
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