Secretary of State Marco Rubio is running ahead of Vice President JD Vance in several early hypothetical 2028 presidential contests against leading Democrats, according to a new Emerson College poll released Thursday.
The survey found Rubio defeating both former Vice President Kamala Harris and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) by identical margins, 48% to 43%.
Vance also leads Ocasio-Cortez, though by a narrower 46% to 44% margin, while trailing Harris, the unsuccessful 2024 Democratic presidential nominee, by 4 percentage points.
Against California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Rubio draws 46% support compared with 44% for Vance in their respective matchups. However, both Republicans fall behind the term-limited governor, who earns 48% against Rubio and 49% against Vance.
Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) posted the strongest numbers among Democrats tested against the two Trump administration officials.
Ossoff, who drew headlines over the weekend after implying that President Trump and White House aide Natalie Harp were romantically involved, leads Rubio by 3 points, 47% to 44%, and holds a 5-point advantage over Vance, 49% to 44%.
Buttigieg, who has recently appeared on the campaign trail with Democrats in several pivotal 2026 midterm races, leads both Republicans by the same 49% to 44% margin.
The Emerson College poll surveyed 1,000 registered voters from Aug. 16-17 and carries a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.
Earlier this month, the Washington Post reported that Trump has privately told donors that “at the end of the day, we need to elect JD” in 2028.
The president later dismissed the report, telling reporters in the Oval Office that he thinks Vance is “great” but that it’s “way too early to even be thinking about” making an endorsement.
Trump has previously suggested Vance and Rubio should run as a ticket, referring to the duo as the “dream team.”
However, Trump has not said which should be the one seeking the presidency.
