A recent poll suggests that Republican voters are coalescing around Vice President JD Vance as their preferred candidate for the 2028 presidential election, though Secretary of State Marco Rubio is gaining traction. The Center Square’s latest Voters’ Voice Poll surveyed 952 Republicans and 225 Republican-leaning independents nationwide, asking respondents to choose among 15 prominent conservative figures or select “someone else” or “not sure.”
Vance emerged as the clear frontrunner, receiving 36% of support, nearly double that of Donald Trump Jr., who came in second with 19%. About 14% of respondents were undecided, rounding out the top 70% of support. Both Vance and Trump Jr. experienced slight declines from the October poll, while Rubio rose from 4% to 9% among Republicans, and his support among independents increased to 15%, surpassing Trump Jr.’s 8%.
Demographic trends show a shift in gender support for Vance. While he previously polled higher among women, the latest results show 39% of men backing him compared to 33% of women. Rubio received 11% support from women and 8% from men. Among Hispanic and Latino respondents, Vance led with 24%, followed by Trump Jr. at 22% and Rubio at 17%.
Vance’s strongest support comes from rural voters, where he received 47% backing, while Trump Jr. performed better in urban areas with 32%, compared to Vance’s 28%. Other candidates, including Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley, Ted Cruz, and Vivek Ramaswamy, trailed with single-digit support.
Meanwhile, Republican Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky has indicated he may consider a 2028 presidential bid, signaling a potential contest against Vance. Paul emphasized his focus on fiscal conservatism, civil liberties, and non-interventionist foreign policy, noting the importance of advocating principles like free trade within the GOP.
