Vice President J.D. Vance continues to assert his dominance in The Western Journal’s latest straw poll, though his support has decreased over the last three weeks. This poll, a weekly assessment asking readers whom they favor for the Republican primary in 2028, recorded a total participation of 12,658 respondents.
Vance initially stood at 62.1 percent support, but that figure faced a steady decline. Following a drop to 53.5 percent and then to 50.1 percent, his latest numbers now reflect support at 47.8 percent. Despite the downturn, Vance remains significantly ahead of potential challengers for the Republican nomination.
The current tally reveals the following leaderboard: Vance at 47.8 percent, former President Donald Trump at 14.4 percent, Kentucky Republican Rep. Thomas Massie at 12.1 percent, an “other” category at 11 percent, Secretary of State Marco Rubio at 9.2 percent, and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis at 5.5 percent. Candidates pulling less than 2.0 percent have been categorized as “other,” including notable names like Tulsi Gabbard and Sarah Huckabee Sanders among others.
Interesting shifts in support have emerged among Vance’s potential rivals. Trump’s backing has slipped by 1 percent this week, reinforcing his stated intention not to run for vice president in 2028. Meanwhile, Massie gained a slight boost, moving from 10.4 percent to 12.1 percent, indicating some increased interest in his candidacy among responders.
However, the trajectory for Rubio appears less favorable, dropping from 10.4 percent to 9.2 percent. DeSantis, often considered a major contender, also saw a marginal rise, climbing from 4.8 percent to 5.5 percent, though still well behind the leading group.
Despite these fluctuations, the polling clearly shows that Vance remains the favored candidate among The Western Journal’s readers. This suggests a strong preference for continuity and the pair’s previous styles within the party.
Furthermore, scrutiny surrounds potential Democratic challengers, with a recent poll from the University of New Hampshire indicating former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg as the frontrunner, followed closely by California Governor Gavin Newsom and Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. As discussions for 2028 race forward, the opinions of Republican voters in this poll reflect a consistent preference for Vance but also point to an evolving political landscape as alternate candidates strive for recognition. It will be intriguing to see whether Vance can stem the tide of declining support or if challengers can gain enough traction to pose a real threat as the primaries approach.
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