Vice President JD Vance was reported to be the overwhelming favorite for the 2028 Republican nomination in another new poll.
Vance is reported to have 40% of support among California voters in a hypothetical Republican Primary poll released by Emerson College Polling on Friday (August 8), a 30-point lead over United States Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who is currently polling at 10%. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis ranks third at 9%, followed by former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, Secretary of State Marco Rubio at 4% and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy at 4%.
The Emerson College poll mirrored several other hypothetical Republican primary surveys in which Vance was reported to have a sizable lead over the field, having also polled at 40% in an early poll released by Echelon Insights on July 14.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom is the favorite to win the 2028 Democratic primary among his home state's voters. Newsom received 23% of support in Emerson College's hypothetical Democratic Primary poll and was also reported to have a 44% job approval rating and a 38% disapproval rating among the California voters surveyed.
Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg was second with 17% support, followed by former Vice President Kamala Harris at 11%, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez at 9%, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear at 5%, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro at 4% and Sen. Bernie Sanders at 4%.
The Emerson College Poll also has former Democratic Rep. Katie Porter as the favorite in the 2026 California gubernatorial election at 18%, followed by Republican former FOX News contributor Steve Hilton at 12%.