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JD Vance Dominates 2028 Polls, Though Others Make Strong Showings
by Michael Austin on November 11, 2025
Vice President JD VanceAnna Moneymaker / Getty Images
The leading vote-getter for Republican candidates, according to the RealClear Polling average, is unsurprisingly Vice President JD Vance. When President Donald Trump first chose Vance as his running mate, many suspected Trump had chosen Vance not just as a running mate, but also as a potential successor who could carry the MAGA movement on into the next generation.
Since then, Vance's strong and persuasive rhetoric has made him a star in the Republican Party and the shoe-in for 2028. The RealClear Polling average currently has him holding a strong plurality of the vote with 47 percent. Just because he's the front-runner, however, doesn't mean he's the only candidate of note on the list.
Governor Ron DeSantisJoe Raedle / Getty Images
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis ranked second in the polling average with 10.3 percent. While this indeed puts him considerably far behind Vance's 47 percent, it still shows some interest remains for a DeSantis presidency, despite the defeat he suffered to Trump in the 2020 primaries.
Secretary of State Marco RubioRoberto Schmidt / Getty Images
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has garnered an increased popularity since he was appointed to his current position. This has resulted in his getting 9.3 percent support among the RealClear Polling averages, just a hair behind Governor DeSantis. Though Rubio recently made clear he would likely defer to Vance in 2028, at least some of the public still believes him to be a viable contender come 2028.
Vivek RamaswamyAnna Moneymaker / Getty Images
Businessman Vivek Ramaswamy surprised many with his highly-successful run for the White House in the 2024 race. His strong skills as a candidate show through yet again with his strong showing at the number four spot of the RealClear Polling average with 5.3 percent.
Despite this, it's highly unlikely Ramaswamy's support will grow much higher. Even if it did, Ramaswamy is currently focused on his run for governor of Ohio.
Nikki HaleySpencer Platt / Getty Images
Last on the list of candidates at the top of the latest RealClear Polling averages is Republican and former US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley. Haley tends to perform stronger with the parts of the Republican Party more critical of President Trump, though those ends of the party continue to lose influence.
This loss of influence can be seen in Haley's dwindling numbers. Despite being the member of the top five candidates most critical of Trump, Haley only boasts minimal 4.5 percent of total support.
