The latest 2028 US election poll has identified Marco Rubio and JD Vance among the leading potential Republican presidential contenders, while Democrats remain divided between Senator Jon Ossoff and former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. The Reuters-Ipsos survey offers an early look at how voters view possible candidates ahead of the next US presidential election, although no formal campaigns have been launched.
According to the poll, 45% of Republican voters rated Secretary of State Marco Rubio an excellent potential presidential candidate, compared with 43% who gave the same assessment of Vice President JD Vance. On the Democratic side, Ossoff and Buttigieg each received an excellent rating from 29% of respondents belonging to their party.
The findings suggest that voters in both major political parties are considering several possible options as discussions about the post-Trump political landscape begin to develop.
Rubio and Vance Draw Similar Republican Support
Marco Rubio and JD Vance emerged with closely matched levels of support among Republican voters in the Reuters-Ipsos survey.
Rubio received an excellent candidate rating from 45% of Republican respondents, placing him two percentage points ahead of Vance, who secured 43%.
The results show that both figures have considerable recognition among their party’s voters. Rubio currently serves as US Secretary of State, while Vance holds the position of vice president under President Donald Trump.
Their positions in the current administration have placed them in prominent roles within the Republican Party, making both names relevant to early discussions about its future leadership.
However, the difference between their ratings is small. The poll reported a margin of error of five percentage points among Republican and Democratic voters, meaning the two-point gap should not be interpreted as a decisive difference in support.
The 2028 US election poll also indicates that Republican voters have not yet settled on a single potential candidate for the next presidential contest.
Democrats Split Between Ossoff and Buttigieg
The Democratic side of the survey showed an equally divided picture, with Jon Ossoff and Pete Buttigieg receiving identical ratings.
Both figures were considered excellent potential presidential candidates by 29% of Democratic respondents.
Ossoff represents Georgia in the US Senate, while Buttigieg previously served as the country’s Transportation Secretary. Buttigieg also participated in the 2020 Democratic presidential primary, giving him previous experience in a national presidential campaign.
Although both received the same rating, their levels of public recognition differ. The Reuters report noted that Buttigieg is better known nationally, while approximately one-third of Democratic respondents said they had not heard of Ossoff.
This difference in recognition is an important detail when interpreting early polling figures. A candidate’s familiarity among voters can influence survey responses, particularly when an election remains several years away.
The results indicate that Democrats have yet to establish a clear consensus around a potential presidential nominee.
Poll Reflects Divisions Within Both Parties
The Reuters-Ipsos survey included 1,705 American adults nationwide, with approximately 500 registered voters from each major political party.
The survey was completed on Monday, November 9, and had a margin of error of five percentage points for Republican and Democratic voters.
Beyond individual candidate preferences, the findings also highlighted differences within both parties over their political direction.
Republican voters remain divided over whether the party’s next presidential candidate should continue following Trump’s political approach or establish a different direction.
Democrats, meanwhile, face questions about how strongly the party should challenge the president and which political strategy it should adopt ahead of the next election.
These disagreements suggest that the discussion about 2028 is not limited to choosing individual candidates. Both parties are also considering their broader political identities and priorities.
Other Potential Candidates Also Receive Support
The survey results included several other political figures who could become part of the discussion surrounding the 2028 presidential race.
Among Republicans, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis received an excellent candidate rating from 32% of party voters.
On the Democratic side, former Vice President Kamala Harris and California Governor Gavin Newsom each received 23%. US Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez received an excellent rating from 15% of Democratic respondents.
These figures show that the potential field extends beyond the four names receiving the most attention in the latest survey.
However, early ratings should not be confused with actual nomination results or confirmed campaign support. Voter opinions can change as political developments unfold and potential candidates become more active in national discussions.
2028 Presidential Election Remains Years Away
Despite growing interest in possible contenders, the next US presidential election is still some distance away. The Republican and Democratic nomination contests have not formally begun, and none of the four leading figures identified in the survey has officially launched a 2028 presidential campaign.
Political circumstances, public opinion and party priorities could change considerably before voters select their nominees.
The 2028 US election poll therefore provides an early snapshot rather than a prediction of the final election outcome.
Rubio and Vance have received similar levels of support among Republican respondents, while Ossoff and Buttigieg share the leading rating among Democrats. The coming years will determine how these early preferences develop as both parties prepare for another presidential contest.
