Poll Shows Strong Support for JD Vance as GOP Candidate
A recent May poll indicates that Vice President JD Vance is the frontrunner for the 2028 Republican presidential nomination. Conducted by JL Partners, the survey revealed that 46% of registered voters would back Vance as the successor to Donald Trump, while other potential candidates failed to reach double-digit support.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis placed second with just 8%, followed closely by Ohio gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy at 7%. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Senator Ted Cruz from Texas each garnered 6% support, while former UN ambassador Nikki Haley received 5%.
Trump had previously announced his support for Vance during the Republican National Convention in July 2024, praising his book, “Hillbilly Elegy,” for depicting the struggles of hardworking Americans.
Vance has emerged as one of Trump’s strongest communicators on various critical issues, like immigration, trade, and social policies. Rubio has also taken on significant roles in the Trump administration, including overseeing the National Archives and serving as national security adviser.
In March, Trump remarked on the resilience of his “Make America Great Again” movement, stating it was poised for success with a promising lineup of candidates. “You look at Marco, you look at JD Vance, who’s great,” he commented during an interview, noting he could readily name numerous potential candidates.
Although Vance and Rubio may eventually face off in the 2028 primaries, Vance emphasized the strength of their friendship. “He’s probably my best friend in the administration. We always hang out and talk,” he stated.
Caroline Mulvaney, Research Manager at JL Partners, mentioned that Vance is likely to attract more support from voters who currently favor candidates unlikely to run in 2028. If Rubio were to best Vance for the nomination, 57% of Republican voters indicated they would support him.
On the Democratic side, 2024 nominee Kamala Harris achieved 30% support in the virtual primary, with transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg also at 30%, though he received only 8% support from participants.
JL Partners, notable for accurately predicting Trump’s popularity in 2024, surveyed 975 registered voters from May 13-14, with a margin of error of 3.1%.
