JD Vance's 2028 Chances Against Top Democrats as Trump Reportedly Backs Him
Vance tops potential Democratic contenders AOC and Gavin Newsom in hypothetical 2028 matchups.
President Donald Trump reportedly privately expressed his desire for Vice President JD Vance to succeed him, according to a report by The Washington Post citing two anonymous sources. Despite Vance's current lead in national Republican surveys by a margin of double digits, his advantage over Secretary of State Marco Rubio has narrowed significantly from 46 points in February to just 10 points in July.
As the 2028 race remains uncertain, both Democratic and Republican parties are still in the process of selecting a candidate. In New Hampshire, New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has gained ground, while California Governor Gavin Newsom and former Vice President Kamala Harris have both lost support. Neither party has officially declared a candidate yet, and the November midterm elections are expected to influence the field.
Trump has avoided endorsing a successor, praising both Vance and Rubio without choosing between them. In hypothetical 2028 matchups, Vance leads Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez by 7 points and Newsom by 7.1 points, according to a Zogby Analytics poll. However, the survey also indicates a significant level of uncertainty among voters, with between 17% and 23% of respondents selecting "not sure" across the matchups.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio fares slightly better against the Democratic contenders, leading Newsom by 6.9 points and Ocasio-Cortez by 0.9 points. Prediction markets for the 2028 presidential election align with these results, with Vance at 18% and Rubio at 16%. Despite Vance's early strength, 38% of respondents viewed him favorably while 54% had an unfavorable view.
Rubio, on the other hand, had the strongest favorability numbers among Republicans, with 34% viewing him favorably and 45% unfavorably. The vice president's assignments have been less public-facing but more institutional, as he has served as the finance chair of the Republican National Committee, raising over $60 million for the committee.
His role has allowed him to build relationships with donors, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio has limited opportunities to build a political operation due to his current role.
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