Florida's Governor, Ron DeSantis, is trailing in the preferences of Republican voters as the 2028 presidential elections approach. According to a YouGov poll, only 8% of Republicans and independents leaning towards the party see him as their ideal candidate, while 40% would consider him in a primary election. These figures place him significantly behind Vice President JD Vance, who leads with 65% consideration and 44% as the top choice, and Donald Trump Jr., who is seen as an ideal candidate by 10% and considered by 37%.
Despite not being the favorite, DeSantis remains competitive against Trump Jr. in the "consideration" category, surpassing him by three percentage points, as highlighted by Florida Politics. The analysis also reveals that Marco Rubio, the current Secretary of State, is in a similar situation: only 4% view him as ideal, but 33% would consider him.
The Challenge of Gaining Traction
Comparisons with previous polls indicate little change. DeSantis remains stagnant around 40% in terms of being considered, while Rubio has decreased slightly from 35% to 33% since April. Florida Politics emphasizes that this stagnation underscores the difficulty both face in gaining traction within a party increasingly leaning towards figures close to Donald Trump.
DeSantis' Struggle for Solid Support
Even as the governor of a pivotal state and with significant national visibility, DeSantis has not managed to solidify his standing among Republican bases as a strong contender for 2028. The poll was conducted from September 5 to 8, surveying 1,114 adult citizens, and it has a margin of error of approximately 4%.
The same survey pointed out that Marco Rubio is still viewed as one of the more viable figures within the Republican Party for the 2028 presidential race. Although he remains behind Vice President JD Vance, Rubio is part of a small group of Republican leaders with notable support from the base.
Key Insights on Republican Candidate Preferences for 2028
What percentage of Republicans consider Ron DeSantis as their ideal candidate for 2028?
Only 8% of Republicans and independents leaning towards the party see Ron DeSantis as their ideal candidate for the 2028 elections.
Who leads the Republican candidate consideration for 2028 according to the poll?
Vice President JD Vance leads the candidate consideration with 65% of respondents considering him and 44% selecting him as their first choice.
How does Marco Rubio compare to Ron DeSantis in the poll?
Marco Rubio is in a similar position to Ron DeSantis, with only 4% seeing him as ideal but 33% willing to consider him, compared to DeSantis' 40% consideration.