Massive 2028 Presidential Update Amid Vance-Rubio Ticket

A new national survey is shaking up early speculation surrounding the Republican Party’s 2028 presidential primary and suggests there may now be a new frontrunner to eventually succeed President Donald Trump.

According to a new poll from AtlasIntel, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has surged past Vice President JD Vance as the preferred Republican choice for the party’s next presidential nominee.

The survey, conducted between May 4 and May 7 among 2,069 American adults, found that 45.4% of Republican respondents selected Rubio as their top choice for 2028, while Vance trailed at 29.6%.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis finished a distant third at 11.2%, while entrepreneur and Ohio gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy received just 1.4%.

Another roughly 10% of Republican respondents selected someone outside the listed options.

The numbers represent a dramatic reversal from AtlasIntel’s previous national survey conducted last December, which showed Vance dominating Rubio by a margin of 46.7% to 22.6%.

Rubio’s rise comes as he has become one of the most visible and influential figures inside President Trump’s second administration.

Serving simultaneously as secretary of state and national security adviser, Rubio now occupies a level of foreign policy influence not seen since Henry Kissinger served under President Richard Nixon.

President Trump himself has repeatedly praised Rubio in recent months and even joked publicly this week about a potential Rubio-Vance ticket.

At a White House event Monday, Trump asked the audience, “Who likes JD Vance? Who likes Marco Rubio?” before calling the pairing “a dream team.”

“By the way, I do believe that’s a dream team. But these are minor details. That does not mean you have my endorsement under any circumstance!” Trump added jokingly.

Vice President Vance later responded humorously to growing speculation about a future rivalry between himself and Rubio.

Speaking to reporters, Vance joked that President Trump may be running an “Apprentice”-style competition to determine his eventual successor.

Despite increasing media attention surrounding the potential 2028 field, both Rubio and Vance have publicly downplayed any talk of future presidential ambitions.

Rubio has repeatedly indicated he would not directly challenge Vance for the nomination if the vice president ultimately enters the race.

Still, Rubio’s growing profile has fueled significant discussion among Republican voters and conservative media figures.

His involvement in major foreign policy matters — including negotiations involving Iran, Ukraine, Russia, Venezuela, and Cuba — has elevated his standing inside the administration.

The AtlasIntel poll also revealed that both Rubio and Vance continue facing broader favorability challenges among the public.

Rubio currently holds a 46% favorable rating compared to 51% unfavorable, while Vance’s numbers were weaker at 37% favorable and 58% unfavorable.

Even so, Rubio’s recent momentum has sparked growing discussion about whether the Republican Party’s post-Trump future could increasingly revolve around the Florida Republican rather than the vice president many long assumed would inherit the MAGA movement.