Pete Buttigieg Leads JD Vance and Marco Rubio in 2028 Presidential Poll

A new poll shows former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg leading in hypothetical 2028 presidential matchups against both Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, two prominent Republicans widely seen as potential candidates. The survey, conducted by Emerson College Polling among 1,000 likely voters on August 16 and 17, 2026, found Buttigieg ahead of both Vance and Rubio by a 49% to 44% margin.

The poll indicates that while Buttigieg maintains a consistent five-point advantage against both Republicans, other top Democrats perform better against Vance than against Rubio. Senator Jon Ossoff of Georgia leads Vance 49% to 44% but holds a narrower 47% to 44% edge over Rubio. California Governor Gavin Newsom similarly leads Vance 49% to 44% but his advantage shrinks to 48% to 46% against Rubio. Former Vice President Kamala Harris leads Vance 49% to 45%, but Rubio leads her 48% to 43%. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York trails both Republicans, losing to Vance 46% to 44% and to Rubio 48% to 43%.

The results suggest Rubio may be a stronger general election candidate than Vance, a finding that could influence the dynamics of the upcoming...