Candace Owens is showing up in Republican focus groups as a possible 2028 contender, a sign that breaking with Trump over Iran may be helping her, not hurting her.

• Strategist Sarah Longwell says her focus groups keep naming Owens as a future president pick, even among non-conservatives.
• Owens turned on Trump over Israel and the Iran strike, called for the 25th Amendment, and Trump hit back by calling her low IQ.
• JD Vance and Marco Rubio are seen as tied to the unpopular Iran war, leaving an opening for an anti-war MAGA voice.
• Tucker Carlson and Thomas Massie are also floated as anti-war alternatives, but Owens has the bigger media reach.
• Real polling still puts Vance far ahead at 32%, with Rubio at 15% and Don Jr. at 13%, so Owens remains a long shot.

Outlook: The 2028 Republican field is shaping up around who can credibly distance themselves from the Iran war, with Vance the frontrunner and Owens a wildcard pulling a wider audience.