Challenges Facing Republicans Post-Trump
For those hoping to steer the Republican Party away from MAGA influences and back to its pre-Trump path, it’s clear there’s a considerable uphill battle ahead.
A recent poll from the St. Anselm College Research Center indicates that Vice President J.D. Vance currently holds a lead over various potential contenders for the 2028 Republican primary, among them Texas Senator Ted Cruz, who was born in Calgary. Interestingly, Trump’s potential candidacy is likened to that of a traditional George W. Bush-era Republican, having won the primaries in both 2016 and 2024.
When asked about their preferred candidate if the election were held now, an impressive 57% of participants indicated support for Vance. Others followed with Secretary of State Marco Rubio at 9%, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis at 7%, and candidates Vivek Ramaswamy, Nikki Haley, and Tulsi Gabbard each garnering 4%. Surprisingly, both Cruz and Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin received just 1% support.
Additionally, 2% of respondents suggested they’d vote for someone else, while 10% remained undecided.
Sources close to the Trump administration mention that Rubio has signaled to Vance his willingness to back him should he run. One insider speculated that, in a possible future scenario, Rubio might be considered for the vice presidency.
Meanwhile, DeSantis, who exited the 2024 Republican primary after a dismal showing of less than 2% of the vote, recently spoke with CNN’s Jake Tapper, saying, “I think we have a president who has been in office for less than a year, so he’s not thinking about anything. There’s a lot to get done.”
It seems he may be heeding advice from James Blair, a former staff member of DeSantis who now serves as White House deputy chief of staff, who suggested that Republicans aiming for a 2028 run should strategize around maintaining party control until 2026. Blair emphasized, “Voters can tell when someone is just self-serving.”
Last month’s University of New Hampshire Granite State Poll revealed that while DeSantis didn’t make the top five candidates, he still had a relatively strong favorability rating, placing him fourth. Vance led the pack with a notable 77%, followed by Rubio at 58%, Gabbard at 57%, and DeSantis at 56%, while Ramaswamy settled in fifth with 46%.
Notably, Cruz and Haley ranked lower, with favorability ratings of 38% and 25%, respectively. Interestingly, a poll from Saint Anselm University indicates Gabbard’s standing above Cruz, even though she hasn’t confirmed her intention to run. Earlier this year, she mentioned on “The Megyn Kelly Show” that she “wouldn’t rule out any opportunity” to serve her country.
On the forecasting platform Polymarket, Vance’s chances of clinching the primary are estimated at 55%.
