TPUSA’s AmericaFest Poll: Islam, the Border, and the GOP’s Top Priorities

A straw poll at Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest in December 2025 sent a clear signal about the GOP’s direction.

Vice President JD Vance dominated the 2028 presidential straw poll, winning 84.2%—far ahead of Marco Rubio (4.8%) and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (2.9%). TPUSA officials noted that Vance’s margin surpassed even Donald Trump’s 2024 AmericaFest victory.

Attendees also made their priorities clear. Nearly two-thirds said winning the 2026 midterms should be the movement’s top focus. Border security topped the list of Trump-era accomplishments, followed by deportations. Support for enforcement was overwhelming: 90% favored an immigration moratorium, and voter-integrity laws ranked among top concerns.

On foreign policy, 86.7% viewed Israel as an ally, while “radical Islam” was identified as the greatest threat to America—a theme emphasized by the late Charlie Kirk. Ending the war in Ukraine ranked last.

Trump’s Cabinet was viewed favorably overall, though Attorney General Pam Bondi received the highest disapproval, at roughly 29%.