2028 Presidential Race: Why Republicans Are Rallying Early Behind Vice President J.D. Vance

Vice President Vance and Republicans plan to beat Obama in 2028. Recent surveys show Vance will take Trump’s GOP seat.

352 Republicans backed Vance for president in 2028. Vance got 54% Republican votes, up from 30% in November. This rise demonstrates conservatives want Vance to continue Trump’s populist legacy and attract support.

Even with term limitations, 25% of Republicans don’t know who to vote for and 7% support Trump. Vance won despite Rubio and DeSantis’ low votes.

Democrats don’t know what will happen. With 24%, Newsom leads. Former vice president Kamala Harris ranked second with 10%. However, Pete Buttigieg is third with 9%. 35% of Democratic primary voters don’t know. The most votes went to AOC (2%).

New Jersey, Virginia, and NYC gains helped Democrats following a slump. These outcomes should help Democrats win the House in 2026.

In 2026, 44% of congressional votes were Democratic, 40% Republican, and 16% unknown. Republicans voted fewer than Democrats, tightening the race.

On November 3 and 4, 1,000 Emerson College registered voters were polled with a three-point confidence interval. Whatever happens, J.D. Vance is the Republican to watch in 2028. Party and voters may make his presidential bid the most competitive.

Sources
Emerson College Poll
Business Insider report
U.S. political election data archives