Rubio Backs Vance for 2028 Presidential Run
In a recent NBC News interview, Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed strong support for Vice President Vance should he decide to run for president in 2028, although Rubio emphasized his commitment to his current role within President Donald Trump’s administration.
When asked about his own presidential ambitions, Rubio stated, “I will be working on this job for the next two and a half years. I’m going to do the job. I’m going to finish this president’s job. I’m enjoying it very much. I’m sure a lot of good things will happen. JD is a very good friend of mine. If JD were to run for president, I think he would be a phenomenal candidate. I’ve said it publicly, and I’ll say it again, I’ll be the first to register and support him. I think JD will do well.”
Regarding the vice presidency, Rubio said, “I want to be secretary of state and I’m going to worry about the future in the future. I’m not saying that’s my goal. You know, I’ve been doing this for a long time, too. I’ve been a senator since 2010, so I’d like to do other things with my life at some point, but it’s an honor to be able to be in public service.”
His remarks come as Vance continues to do well in early polls for the 2028 Republican primaries, with Rubio also showing a strong position in hypothetical matchups.
A Harvard University and Harris survey conducted from April 23 to 26, 2026, found that among 2,745 registered voters, Vance led the Republican field with 48% support, followed by Donald Trump Jr. at 18%, Rubio at 16%, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis at 9%, and Tucker Carlson at 4%. On the Democratic side, Kamala Harris leads with 50%, trailed by California Governor Gavin Newsom at 22%, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro at 9%, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez at 8%, and Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker at 6%. The poll reported a margin of error of plus or minus 1.87 percentage points, with 67% of respondents indicating they were at least somewhat considering the upcoming election.
In another study conducted among 3,612 U.S. adults from May 1 to May 5, 2026, Vance again led the Republicans with 40% support, followed by Donald Trump Jr. at 15% and Rubio at 14%. Meanwhile, Harris topped the Democratic field with 38%, with Newsom at 16%, and both Ocasio-Cortez and former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg at 9%.
Another poll by AtlasIntel, conducted from May 4-7 with 2,069 U.S. adults, presented a different landscape for Democratic contenders. Ocasio-Cortez led with 26% support, followed closely by Buttigieg at 22.4% and Newsom at 21.2%. Harris was in fourth with 12.9%, while other candidates received single-digit support.
