Vice President J.D. Vance Leads in Early 2028 GOP Poll

Vice President J.D. Vance is showing a strong lead over potential contenders in the early 2028 Republican primary, as indicated by a recent poll from St. Anselm College.

The survey, which focused on likely Republican voters in New Hampshire from November 18 to 19, has a margin of error of 2.1 percentage points. It shows Vance with a 57 percent approval rating, significantly outpacing the other candidates.

Initially, the poll reported an approval rate of 54 percent for Vance, but a subsequent update corrected that to 57 percent, reinforcing his lead.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis are trailing considerably, at 9 percent and 7 percent, respectively. Other candidates like Vivek Ramaswamy, Nikki Haley, and Tulsi Gabbard are at 4 percent, with Sen. Ted Cruz and Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin not far behind, also at 4 percent.

Earlier this month, sources close to Rubio indicated that he might not enter the race if Vance decides to run. There are whispers that Rubio is supportive of Vance and might even consider a role as his running mate.

This notion was echoed by former President Donald Trump, who, during a comment from Air Force One on October 27, suggested that a ticket consisting of Vance and Rubio would be “unstoppable.”

Vance has become a key player in the second Trump administration, not only serving as vice president but also as the chairman of the Republican National Committee’s finance committee. Under his guidance, the RNC has gathered over $86 million in cash as of mid-November, a record that RNC Chairman Joe Gruters attributes to a strong fundraising and voter turnout strategy.

The timing of this poll closely follows Vance’s participation in a live policy debate in Washington, DC on November 20. The event, led by Breitbart Washington bureau chief Matthew Boyle, featured discussions on the achievements of the Trump-Vance administration and what lies ahead as they approach their third year in office.