Republican voters appear to be coalescing around a frontrunner for the 2028 presidential election, according to a recent report. Vice President JD Vance leads the field, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio has gained traction in the latest Voters’ Voice Poll by The Center Square. The survey, which included 952 Republicans and 225 Republican-leaning independents nationwide, asked respondents to choose from 15 prominent conservative figures or select “someone else” or “not sure.” Vance emerged as the clear favorite, receiving 36% of first-choice support, nearly double the 19% backing Donald Trump Jr., the second-most popular candidate. Another 14% were undecided, rounding out the top 70% of respondents.
Compared to October’s poll, both Vance and Trump Jr. saw slight declines. Vance dropped from 38% support among Republicans and 41% among independents to 36% and 33%, respectively. Trump Jr. fell from 26% and 13% to 20% and 8%. Rubio, meanwhile, gained ground, rising from 4% among Republicans to 9%, and reaching 15% support among independents, surpassing Trump Jr. in that group. Demographic patterns also shifted. Vance, previously stronger among women, now leads more with men, receiving 39% support compared to 33% among women. Rubio draws more support from women at 11%, versus 8% from men. Among Hispanic and Latino voters, Vance leads with 24%, followed by Trump Jr. at 22% and Rubio at 17%. Rural voters overwhelmingly favor Vance at 47%, while Trump Jr. performs better in urban areas with 32% compared to Vance’s 28%.
Other candidates remain far behind. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has 5% support, while former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley and Senator Ted Cruz each have 3%. Entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy trails at 2%, with figures for former Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin, Texas Governor Greg Abbott, former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, Senators Tim Scott, Rand Paul, Josh Hawley, Katie Britt, and former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also relatively low. Meanwhile, Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky, a longtime advocate of fiscal conservatism, civil liberties, and a non-interventionist foreign policy, is considering a 2028 bid. Paul, who finished fifth in the 2016 Republican primary, told reporters he will decide after 2026, criticizing the Trump administration and emphasizing the importance of promoting free trade and principled conservative policies. The poll suggests a GOP field dominated by Vance, with Rubio gaining momentum, while Trump Jr. and other candidates have seen declining support. Late entries like Paul could introduce a new dynamic, particularly for voters seeking a more traditional conservative platform.
