As the 2028 presidential race looms on the horizon, Democrats are already feeling the pressure in the polls. This shift comes as notable changes are observed in Republican ranks.
Marco Rubio, currently serving as Secretary of State, has surged in popularity, now neck-and-neck with the presumptive GOP frontrunner JD Vance, each securing around 35% support according to a recent survey by Emerson College.
The vice president, while holding a narrow lead with 36% backing as the preferred Republican nominee, has experienced a notable drop in support, down from 52% earlier this year.
Rubio’s association with President Donald Trump’s foreign policy appears to have bolstered his standing, climbing from a previous 20% support in the polls.
Meanwhile, Democratic hopefuls are struggling to gain traction, with none surpassing the 20% support mark. This group includes prominent figures such as Gavin Newsom, Pete Buttigieg, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Kamala Harris.
Despite minor gains for most Democratic candidates, top-tier contenders like Newsom and Harris have seen their support dwindle, despite their national recognition.
The new poll found Newsom dropped four points from 20% in February, while Harris fell three points from 13%.
Governors Josh Shapiro and Andy Beshear also saw slight increases, rising from 7% to 10% and from 5% to 9%, respectively.
On the conservative side, other candidates included Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, Senators Ted Cruz and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., all of whom polled significantly behind Rubio and Vance at below 5%.
Similarly, on the liberal bloc, Illinois Governor J. B. Pritzker and Silicon Valley Representative Ro Khanna polled at or below 5%.
The poll was conducted May 24–25 and surveyed 1,000 likely voters.
