Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC)

The Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) is a significant annual gathering for conservatives in the United States. Recent news highlights internal divisions and showcases potential future Republican leaders. This year's CPAC in Texas revealed a generational divide, particularly regarding the ongoing conflict with Iran, with younger attendees expressing disappointment over Trump's actions. Despite being a regular fixture, Donald Trump skipped the event this year. The conference also featured a straw poll for potential 2028 presidential candidates, with Vice President JD Vance leading, followed by Marco Rubio. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton was embraced by CPAC activists as the preferred candidate for Texas Senate over John Cornyn. Liz Truss is set to bring a version of CPAC to the UK in July, though Nigel Farage plans to snub it. The event also hosted international figures like Reza Pahlavi, who spoke about Iran's future. CPAC remains a key indicator of the conservative movement's direction and potential future leadership, even with internal disagreements.