January 26, 2026
CA Gov. Gavin Newsom Named as the Likely Democratic Party Contender
51% said Abortion Their Top Issue while almost 34% said it was in their Top 2 Issues, meaning nearly 85% of the Pro-Life Generation prioritize Voting Their Values
“The dedicated grassroots of GOP activists – Pro-Life, Youth Voters – pick Vice President JD Vance as their top GOP Presidential Contender … and flag CA Gov. Gavin Newsom as the possible leader of the Democratic Party,” said Students for Life Action President Kristan Hawkins. “Legislators take note: the campaign season has begun.”
MEDIA ADVISORY: Time Lapse of the national pro-life march, available for use with a video credit to Students for Life of America.
UP TODAY AT REALCLEARPOLITICS: KRISTAN HAWKINS, Free Speech Isn’t Free and It Cost Charlie Kirk Everything
WASHINGTON D.C. (01-26-2026) – Students for Life Action (SFLAction) President Kristan Hawkins announced today the winners of the 2026 National Pro-Life Summit straw poll, from the sold-out event. Pro-Life Generation voters picked U.S. Vice President JD Vance for the top spot for the GOP and projected California Governor Gavin Newsom as the leading contender for the Democratic Party. Students for Life Action works to engage dedicated, pro-life, single-issue voters. Asked the importance of the LIFE issue to their vote, National Pro-Life Summit attendees said it ranked HIGH, with a majority of respondents noting that it’s their top issue (51%).
The full results for GOP Presidential pick, in order of preference, are:
U.S. Vice President JD Vance
FL Gov. Ron DeSantis
Secretary of State Marco Rubio
U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson
VA Governor Glenn Youngkin
AR Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders
Donald Trump Jr.
U.S. Sen. Rand Paul
Former SC Gov. Nikki Haley
OH Gubernatorial Candidate Vivek Ramaswamy
Eric Trump
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard
Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F Kennedy, Jr.
Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz
U.S. Sen. Tim Scott
Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth
When asked “who do you think the Democratic Party Presidential Candidate will be in 2028?” Pro-life youth voters predicted CA Gov. Gavin Newsom as the likely nominee.
The other contenders were ranked as follows:
Former Vice President Kamala Harris
MN Gov. Tim Walz
U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
KY Gov. Andy Beshear
U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders
U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren
Former Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg
IL Gov. JB Pritzker
U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly
U.S. Sen. Cory Booker
U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine
HI Gov. Josh Green
MD Gov. Wes Moore
U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar
U.S. Rep. Ro Khanna
Once again, SFLAction tracked engaged Youth Vote interest in abortion as an issue that motivates a vote. Ask “Where does abortion rank among issues that matter to you when voting for a political candidate?” Youth voters said that abortion was crucial to their vote. More than half said it was most important for their vote, and almost 34% said it was one of two important to them.
The rankings offered were:
The most important issue
Among the top 2 issues
Among the top 3 issues
Among the top 4 issues
Among the top 5 issues
TO READ A MORE IN-DEPTH BREAKDOWN OF YOUTH VOTER ATTITUDES ON ABORTION, CHECK OUT STUDENTS FOR LIFE’S DEMETREE INSTITUTE FOR PRO-LIFE ADVANCEMENT LATEST NATIONAL SURVEY.
A few key findings: Once again, almost 7 in 10 support limits on abortion, and LESS THAN 1 in 10 support the Democratic Party’s Abortion Views.
“The abortion industrial complex has hijacked the Democrat Party, and they are running the show,” said Hawkins. “’Safe, legal, and rare’ has given way to ‘without exception and without apology.’ In fact, only ONE Democrat voted to just give women information about the help available to them if they choose LIFE while at school. That’s a sad commentary on the party my family once supported.”
Learn more about SFLAction’s Pregnant Students’ Rights Act — which passed the U.S. House this week and is headed to the U.S Senate Next week — HERE.
A BRIEF RECAP OF THE SOLD-OUT EVENT: At Students for Life’s National Pro-Life Summit, youth vote leaders from across the nation heard incredible speeches about where we go next in the fight for life.
“Truth demands an advocate,” said former Virginia State Delegate Nick Freitas. “Christ demands that we pick up our cross. And when we live in a civilization that has become this addicted to destroying innocent human life, it requires us to stand up and actually do something about it.”
“What matters is that we not all carry the light in the same way,” SFLAction President Kristan Hawkins said. “The most important thing to note is that we’re all bringing a light. We’re all bringing light to light up the darkness. We’re all united around one truth, and that is that abortion is evil and it must end as quickly as possible.”
“The leaders that we choose, the policies we support, the voices we elevate, the votes that we cast this November, all of it will determine whether we can continue building a culture of Life, or whether we will see a regression to the failed policies of the past,” said Admiral Brian Christine, M.D., Assistant Secretary for Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. “The Right to Life Movement has always been driven by young people, by students like you who refuse to accept the status quo and who insist that we can do better. You are part of something so much bigger than yourselves. You are part of a movement that has changed hearts, has changed laws, and has changed history.”
“When you speak the truth filled with the Holy Spirit from God there is nothing that is more dangerous or threatening to them,” said NY Times bestselling author Jack Posobiec, encouraging attendees to follow Charlie Kirk’s example. “And if Charlie can do it, then you know what, so can you.”
“Every one of you and the candle you carry, the flashlight you hold, the cell phone you put up, or the blowtorch you wield, it matters,” said Hawkins.
For interviews, email [email protected].
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The Pro-Life Generation is an umbrella organization encompassing the most-cutting edge engagement opportunities for a Vote Pro-Life First Community. PLG includes Students for Life Action, a 501c4, along with its 501c3 sister organization, Students for Life of America. Together, these organizations make up America’s largest pro-life youth organization. The PLG manages a grassroots political and policy operation engaging Americans of all ages but with a special emphasis on the largest segment of voters — the youth vote. Headquartered in Fredericksburg, VA, PLG/SFLA/SFLAction serves more than 1,600 groups on middle school, high school, college, medical, and law school campuses in all 50 states. Our team has more conversations with this generation targeted by the abortion lobby than any other pro-life operation in the world. Each week, we reach more than 10 million accounts across social media platforms and average 6 million video views. The organization’s CEO, Kristan Hawkins, hosts a bi-weekly, informative podcast, The Kristan Hawkins Show. In addition to SFLA/SFLAction, PLG leads multiple initiatives to lead and serve the future of the pro-life movement, including the Campaign for Abortion Free Cities, Standing With You, and the Demetree Institute for Pro-Life Advancement.
