Turning Point set to boost JD Vance for president in key states after Erika Kirk’s endorsement

4:34Vice President JD Vance concludes AmericaFest, the inaugural Turning Point USA summit following the passing of Charlie Kirk, in Phoenix, Arizona, on December 21, 2025. Cheney Orr/Reuters

In the aftermath of the AmericaFest convention hosted by Turning Point USA (TPUSA), the organization, which was previously led by the late conservative activist Charlie Kirk, announced its intention to back Vice President JD Vance for the 2028 presidential election, beginning early support in crucial states including Iowa and New Hampshire.

Iowa, New Hampshire, and Nevada have historically been among the first states to conduct presidential primaries or caucuses, although neither party has yet finalized its official schedule for these events.

The Wall Street Journal was the first to report on TPUSA’s forthcoming operations in Iowa.

Vice President JD Vance concludes AmericaFest, the inaugural Turning Point USA summit following the passing of Charlie Kirk, in Phoenix, Arizona, on December 21, 2025.Cheney Orr/Reuters

The CEO of the group, Erika Kirk, publicly endorsed Vance for the presidency on Thursday, promising to mobilize one of the most significant conservative organizations in the nation in his favor.

"We are determined to elect my husband’s friend JD Vance as the 48th president in the most emphatic manner possible," Kirk declared during her address at AmericaFest on Thursday evening.

Vance has not yet officially announced his candidacy for 2028. In a recent interview with Fox News, he mentioned that his current focus is on the vice presidency and the 2026 midterm elections, but he would discuss 2028 with President Donald Trump after the elections next year.

Tyler Bower, the COO of TPUSA overseeing grassroots political efforts, informed ABC News in an interview on Monday that the organization is already committing its full resources to support Vance ahead of 2028.

TPUSA is in the process of expanding its staff and operations in Iowa and plans to establish new offices in New Hampshire and Nevada in the upcoming year.

Bower remarked that it was an uncomplicated choice to support Vance so early in the process.

"He stands out as the clear frontrunner by a significant margin. This is not a highly competitive field. He is the Vice President of the United States," Bower stated, emphasizing that ultimately, it will be Vance’s decision whether to run.

"We intend to clearly express that we are spearheading the recruitment and preparatory efforts in Iowa, New Hampshire, and Nevada for JD," he added, mentioning that Secretary of State Marco Rubio has already declared his support for Vance should he decide to pursue the presidency.

Andrew Kolvet, the executive producer of "The Charlie Kirk Show" and a spokesperson for TPUSA, stated on Fox News on Monday, "I understand it made headlines. But if anyone was involved with the organization in any capacity, they knew Charlie was very close to the vice president and had essentially endorsed him for months prior, so it came as no surprise to us," he remarked, indicating that the group had chosen to disclose "what everyone was already aware of behind the scenes."

CEO of Turning Point USA Erika Kirk speaks during AmericaFest, the inaugural Turning Point USA summit following the passing of Charlie Kirk, in Phoenix, Arizona, on Dec. 18, 2025Cheney Orr/Reuters

He further stated, "We are pleased with the present circumstances, so we will allow the upcoming year to unfold. However, as we approach 2028, we are eager to support him, and the apparatus that Charlie established, which remains active at Turning Point, will be fully committed to the vice president."

TPUSA perceives early endorsement of Vance as a significant advantage against Democrats in 202

Sourse: abcnews.go.com