If you wish to help ConservativeHQ reach more readers then donate here.
Vice President J.D. Vance has a wide lead over other potential contenders for the 2028 Republican presidential nomination. Ninety percent (90%) of self-described conservative voters say they are at least somewhat likely to vote in the 2028 GOP primaries, and nearly half (49%) of conservatives prefer Vance.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey finds that, if the Republican primaries were held today, 35% of Likely Republican Primary Voters would vote for Vance, with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Secretary of State Marco Rubio tied for second place at 10% each.
All other potential 2028 GOP presidential primary candidates listed by name get single-digit levels of support: Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul (5%), Texas Sen. Ted Cruz (4%), Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin (3%), Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard (2%) and South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott (2%). Fifteen percent (15%) of Likely Republican Primary Voters say they’d vote for some other candidate, and 14% are not sure.
Seventy percent (70%) of all Likely Voters say it’s at least somewhat likely that they will vote in the 2028 Republican presidential primaries, including 55% who say they’re Very Likely to vote in the GOP primaries. Among those who are Very Likely 2028 primary voters, 39% prefer Vance, with DeSantis at 10% and all other named potential candidates in single digits.
Voters 65 and older are most likely to say they’ll vote in the 2028 Republican primaries. The preference for Vance as the 2028 GOP candidate is strongest among those in their 30s.
Among likely 2028 Republican primary voters, slightly more men (39%) than women voters (32%) prefer Vance. Twice as many men (14%) as women voters (7%) would vote for Rubio. Women voters are significantly more likely than men to answer “not sure” or to say they prefer some other candidate.
Sixty-one percent (61%) of whites, 40% of black voters, 46% of Hispanics and 44% of other minorities say they’re Very Likely to vote in the 2028 Republican presidential primaries. Vance’s lead is strongest among whites, with DeSantis second, while among Hispanics voters, Rubio makes a strong second-place showing at 18%.
Ninety percent (90%) of self-described conservative voters say they are at least somewhat likely to vote in the 2028 GOP primaries, and nearly half (49%) of conservatives prefer Vance.
Breaking down the electorate by income categories, voters earning between $30,000 and $50,000 a year are most likely to say they’ll vote in the 2028 Republican presidential primaries. Among voters in that bracket, Vance gets 35%, followed by DeSantis (14%) and Rubio (13%), while 16% say they’d prefer some other candidate.
Among those who voted for Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election, 90% say they’re at least somewhat likely to vote in the 2028 GOP primaries, and 53% of them would pick Vance.
The survey of 1,182 U.S. Likely Voters was conducted on August 6-7 and 10, 2025 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. To see survey question wording, click here.
- Donald Trump
- Vice President JD Vance
- 2028 Republican nomination
- Trump approval rating
- MAGA
- Conservative Voters
- Gov. Ron DeSantis
- Sec. of State Marco Rubio
- 2028 Republican presidential field
- Sen. Ted Cruz
Wanna help us reach more readers?
Since 1999, ConservativeHQ has been providing for free news and information for conservative leaders and activists intended to help grow the conservative movement so large that conservatives will govern America.
If you enjoy our content and wish to help finance the success and growth of ConservativeHQ, then I urge you to donate here, or mail a contribution to: ConservativeHQ, 9625 Surveyor Court, Ste 400, Manassas, VA 20110. Your contribution is not tax deductible, but greatly appreciated!
