GOP hopefuls head to Iowa ahead of 2028

State of play: U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), who won the 2016 Iowa caucus, is returning next month to headline an event for Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird in Adel.

• Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin shared his record of "common sense conservative values" with early voters at an event last week with state GOP chair Jeff Kaufmann.
• Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul visited in May and told Republicans how his views differ from President Trump's.
• Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders touted her Iowa ties during a Family Leader event this month.

The other side: It's not just Republicans making their early returns — former Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg spoke in Cedar Rapids this summer.

• Arizona Sen. Ruben Gallego will visit the Iowa State Fair, and former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel is scheduled to speak at a Des Moines fundraiser in September.

Between the lines: The 2028 conversation isn't just about seeking the White House.

• It's also about raising a prospect's profile and injecting them into the mix for VP consideration or a possible Cabinet post in 2029.

Yes, but: Trump is likely to play an outsized role in determining the party's next nominee and could push back if he perceives would-be candidates putting themselves ahead of his priorities.