Vice President JD Vance Leads 2028 GOP Primary with 46% Support, Far Ahead of Rubio, DeSantis, Trump Jr.
Vice President JD Vance has emerged as the clear front-runner for the 2028 Republican presidential nomination, according to multiple polls conducted by Emerson College and other sources in June and July 2025. Emerson polling shows Vance commanding a lead of approximately 34 points over his GOP rivals, with 46% support compared to 12% for Senator Marco Rubio and 9% for Governor Ron DeSantis. Vance's support among Republican voters is reported at 36% to 48% in various polls, placing him well ahead of other candidates, including Donald Trump Jr. Additionally, Vance holds 42% support among GOP voters, surpassing the combined total of the next eleven likely Republican contenders. Despite his popularity within the party, a YouGov/Economist poll indicates that only 29% of all Americans, including independents, consider Vance qualified to be president. Vance was selected as Donald Trump's running mate a year prior and has since worked closely with the president on key issues such as border security and economic policies. On the Democratic side, Pete Buttigieg, former Transportation Secretary, is noted as a leading contender for the party's 2028 nomination.