Vice President JD Vance has been surpassed by a fellow Trump cabinet member in the initial contest for the 2028 Republican presidential nomination, according to a presidential campaigns expert.

Vance has been widely considered the successor to Donald Trump’s MAGA agenda, but Secretary of State Marco Rubio is reportedly gaining significant backing from party members and early voting regions.

CNN analyst Eric Bradner noted that Rubio, who has joined Trump’s esteemed inner circle, is particularly popular in Iowa. The former Florida senator might gather the necessary support to take the helm of the MAGA movement after Trump.

“I was a bit surprised during a recent visit to Iowa at how often Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s name was mentioned, frequently alongside JD Vance,” he remarked.

“Both, despite having publicly criticized Trump in the past, now appear to be seen as team players, closely associated with Trump and his current administration as leading figures,” he added.

He also mentioned that unlike Vance, Rubio has previously run for president, thus having experience campaigning in states where early support is vital.

‘A lot of people in the early voting states remember Rubio visiting them in 2016, when he finished third in Iowa in what were pretty competitive caucuses,’ Bradner noted.

‘A lot of these early-state Republican voters have met Rubio before.’

Vance, on the other hand, is still relatively new on the scene and may have more to prove. 

‘They like Vance, but they don’t know him yet. They haven’t had a chance to go through the usual process with him,’ he said.

Rubio recently sidestepped a question about his own ambitions to one day become president, instead deflecting back to Vance’s credentials.

‘I think JD Vance would be a great nominee … if he decides he wants to do that,’ Rubio told Fox.

‘I think he’s doing a great job as vice president. He’s a close friend, and I hope he intends to do it.’

While Trump is personally entwined with the MAGA movement, the Constitution states he is unable to run for a third term.

This has not stopped him repeatedly suggesting since returning to office that he would like to serve again.

‘I will say this – so many people want me to do it,’ Trump revealed in May. ‘I have never had requests so strong as that.’

‘But it’s something that, to the best of my knowledge, you’re not allowed to do,’ he conceded. 

‘I don’t know if that’s constitutional that they’re not allowing you to do it or anything else. But, there are many people selling the 2028 hat.’

Despite brushing off questions about a possible return to office, Trump went so far as to launch Trump 2028 merchandise promoting the possibility.

Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Tenn., introduced a measure shortly after the president’s inauguration to change the 22nd Amendment.

The proposal would change the amendment’s language to specify that a president could run for a third term if the first two were not consecutive.

‘No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than three times, nor be elected to any additional term after being elected to two consecutive term,’ the proposed legislation stated.

This would specifically stop Trump’s leading opposition – Barack Obama – from also trying to run for a third term.

A recent exclusive Daily Mail/J.L. Partners poll revealed Obama would win in a theoretical matchup.

Of the respondents, 52 percent chose the former Democratic president and 41 percent chose Trump. 

Obama’s 11-point majority over Trump stems from an enthusiastic Hispanic base, of which 73 percent selected Obama, and also 68 percent of black voters.

Independent voters also preferred Obama over Trump in the hypothetical match, 50 percent for the former Democrat to just 39 percent for Trump.

Trump supporters have mused about a possible loophole in the law, if Vance – or any other close Trump ally – won a presidential race in 2028 with Trump as his running mate.

Theoretically, the new president could swear in and then resign, allowing a vice president Trump to ascend back into power.

Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt also addressed Trump’s much-touted third term last month.

‘You guys continue to ask the president this question about a third term and then he answers honestly and candidly with a smile and then everybody here melts down about his answer,’ she said.

‘People love the job this president is doing.’

Trump has also floated the idea of his eldest son, Don Trump Jr., taking his place in the White House.

Bradner said Ted Cruz could also be a contender, noting he beat out Trump in Iowa in the 2016 race.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is also often floated as a contender who could rally support in his home state and beyond. 

Daily Mail has contacted Vance for comment.