One of the more prominent features at CPAC 2026 is its direct endorsement of specific candidates. In the past, CPAC welcomed all Republican and conservative comers without much direct promotion of any candidate. Chairman Matt Schlapp made it known that this year, things were different. Schlapp said:
"CPAC is going to be very involved in campaigns this year. And we know that's what you care about: actions over words. We don't want to elect people who just tell us stuff, we want to elect people that do stuff and the right stuff."
For the CPAC board, the candidates on the stage fit that bill:
- Former NY Lt. Governor Betsy McCaughey, running for Governor of Connecticut
- Brandon Herrera, candidate for U.S. Congress — 23rd District in Texas
- Air Force Lt. Colonel (Ret.) David Flippo, who is running for U.S. Congress — 2nd District of Nevada
- HUD Great Plains Regional Director Joe Mitchell, who is running for U.S. Congress — 2nd District of Iowa
- MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell, who is running for Minnesota Governor
- Former Florida State Rep. Rick Roth, who is now running for the State Senate.
Former Alabama GOP Chairman John Wahl, who is running for Lt. Governor in the state, was scheduled to be part of this forum, but was not in attendance on stage with the other listed candidates.
Businessman and Second Amendment advocate Brandon Herrera is the David vs. Goliath story of the 2026 election cycle. As RedState reported, Herrera forced the embattled TX-23 incumbent Tony Gonzales into a runoff election. Gonzales tanked his own candidacy over an affair with a female staffer, who subsequently committed suicide. After pressure from conservative members of Congress like Rep. Ana Paulina Luna (FL-13), Gonzales chose to conclude his present term but suspend his campaign for reelection.
Herrera was honored by the endorsement and the privilege of appearing on the CPAC stage.
"This is incredible. This is honestly incredible. If you had told me three years ago that my life would have gone in the direction that would have led to me speaking at CPAC, I would have told you to get back on your medication."
Herrera expounded on his grassroots campaign and how it helped bring the Republican establishment to heel.
"At the end of the day, I'm just a regular guy. I'm a 30-year-old business owner in my district who was unhappy with the way that his congressman was voting. We needed somebody who is strong on the Second Amendment, somebody who is strong for Republican values, somebody who is strong on the border in the biggest border district in the country, and we didn't have one. So, I stepped up and we had all of the big guns of the establishment pointed directly at us. They came after us with millions and millions of dollars, all of the pressure the establishment could possibly throw at someone. I wouldn't recommend it by the way.
"But this cycle, we won. We beat Tony Gonzales in TX-23. And it is the honor of my life to stand before you as the Republican nominee for TX District 23."
Since then, the establishment endorsements for Herrera's campaign have poured in, including from President Donald Trump.
"And not only are we endorsed by leadership, not only are we endorsed by some of the most conservative people in the United States Congress, we are now endorsed by the 45th and 47th President of the United States Donald Trump. And anyone who tells you that Texas isn't energized, they're crazy."
Herrera encouraged the CPAC crowd to stay engaged and fiery.
"We are doing some housecleaning in this cycle. We are getting rid of the RINOs who have been representing Texas for too long. We are energized, and we are here.
"But we can't allow ourselves to get complacent. It's very easy to get comforable. The Democrats are gonna come at us with everything they have, because so goeth Texas, so goeth the country.
"So, we need to make sure we are firm. Go out. Vote. Get everybody else to vote. And let's keep Texas red, and let's keep our control over the House of Representatives. Get out there, get energized, I'm here behind you."
Read More: After Admitting Affair With Staffer Who Died Tragically, Tony Gonzales Is Fighting for His Seat
MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell received strong cheers and applause from the CPAC audience. Lindell is running for Governor of Minnesota, but if you rely on the legacy or conservative media for information, you would not know it.
Lindell talked about the dark days of COVID and the 2020 election, when the Left and Democrats did all they could to bankrupt and deplatform Lindell. Now he runs his own media organization as well as continues to helm MyPillow. Linda said that it was "CPAC who gave me a voice."
Lindell talked about the media blackout he was receiving for his gubernatorial run and urged the CPAC audience to get the word out with him.
"You wouldn't even know I'm running. The media there, they understand me, I use them to attack. They're not even attacking me. I need CPAC once again, I need you guys to get the word out. It's MikeLindellGov.com. MikeLindellGov.com. I need your support and help to get the word out that I'm running, I'm following our great president's campaign strategy, I'm doing rallies all over Minnesota in spite of them. And with your voice and through CPAC's voice, we'll get the word out, and I have a path to win Minnesota."
Iowa 2nd District Congressional candidate Joe Mitchell was the other young gun on the stage. Of his candidacy, Mitchell declared, "I'm not taking any corporate PAC money. That means no money from Pfizer, no money from Blackrock, no money from Wells Fargo. We don't need their money, we only need money from people like yourselves."
Mitchell also said, "We gotta have term limits. I don't want to be up there when I'm 80 years old. I'm 28, so I don't want to be up there 50 years from now."
Finally, Mitchell said he would work to ban insider trading. "You gotta stop this insider trading. You got people like Nancy Pelosi, they go up there, they're worth two dollars, and they come out, and they're worth about two hundred million dollars. So, we gotta ban that."
Mitchell is endorsed by President Trump, as well as congressional conservatives — Rep. Jim Jordan (OH-04), Rep. Ana Paulina Luna (FL-13), and Rep. Brandon Gill (TX-26) are endorsing Mitchell's candidacy. "So, we're getting endorsed by all the right people," Mitchell said.
A Connecticut native, former NY Lt. Governor Betsy McCaughey is looking to change the governorship of Connecticut to lean more fiscally conservative. Her campaign pledge: Eliminate the state income tax. McCaughey said, "I'm calling on all of you to launch a tax revolution, 1776 to 2026!"
McCaughey also encouraged the CPAC crowd to "not be cowed by Trump Derangement Syndrome. Do not be silenced by what you hear from the Democrats. Stand with our president. He cowers to no one, and neither should we."
Like Herrera has done, Iraq Veteran David Flippo is looking to replace Republican Rep. Mark Amodei (NV-2) to represent the district in Congress.
"I'm running against a Republican candidate who voted to give driver's licenses to illegals. He voted for diversity quotas, and he voted for Planned Parenthood funding. We have to be careful who we elect in Congress. I did not spend 14 years of my life in the desert to have the Woke Left take this country over. We are in a fight. We are in a fight for our country. And it is time we all stand up. I'm running for Nevada's 2nd District, Flippo for Nevada. Let's make this happen."
Former Florida Rep. Rick Roth ended the forum, giving a shoutout to FL Governor Ron DeSantis (R) and President Trump. Roth concluded, "With the help of our great President Donald Trump and our great governor Ron DeSantis, we are turning Florida red, and my goal is to turn Palm Beach County red."
Other CPAC-endorsed candidates also include former GOP Co-Chair Michael Whatley running for U.S. Senate in North Carolina against former NC Gov. Democrat Roy Cooper; Republican businessman Nate Morris, running for Mitch McConnell's KY Senate seat; and Rep. Mike Collins (GA-10), who hopes to unseat GA Sen. Jon Ossoff.
Editor’s Note: The 2026 Midterms will determine the fate of President Trump’s America First agenda. Republicans must maintain control of both chambers of Congress.
Help RedState continue to report on the Democrats’ radicalism and inform voters as our nation faces a crossroads. Join RedState VIP and use promo code FIGHT to receive 60% off your membership.
Join the conversation as a VIP Member