Vice President JD Vance is holding a commanding lead over potential rivals in the early 2028 Republican presidential primary landscape according to a newly released Saint Anselm College poll.

The survey was conducted on November 18 through 19 with a margin of error of plus or minus 2.1 percent. The poll of likely Republican voters in New Hampshire shows Vance with 57 percent support, a towering figure that places him miles ahead of the rest of the prospective field.

WMUR’s Adam Sexton shared the poll which initially listed Vance at 54 percent. However, a correction posted shortly afterward clarified that the vice president’s support actually sits at 57 percent, reinforcing the scale of his lead.

The next closest contenders are Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. They trail significantly at nine percent and seven percent respectively. A second tier of candidates including Vivek Ramaswamy, Nikki Haley and Tulsi Gabbard each registered four percent. Senator Ted Cruz of Texas and Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin rounded out the list at just one percent apiece.

Earlier this month Politico reported that Rubio is not expected to run if Vance decides to launch a campaign. The outlet cited multiple sources close to the secretary of state. According to the report, Rubio is privately indicating he would back Vance fully and may even serve as his running mate.

President Donald Trump himself reinforced the sentiment.

Trump said from Air Force One on October 27 that a Vance-Rubio ticket would be unstoppable.

Vance has emerged as a central figure in the second Trump administration. He serves not only as vice president but also in the unprecedented role of Finance Chairman of the Republican National Committee. Under his leadership the RNC has raised over 86 million dollars in cash on hand as of mid-November. This represents a record-breaking haul that RNC Chairman Joe Gruters credited as instrumental to the party’s 2026 midterm strategy.

Gruters described Vance’s dual role as pivotal to the GOP’s aggressive push on both voter turnout and fundraising.

The timing of the poll also comes just days after Breitbart News hosted Vice President Vance for a live policy discussion in Washington on November 20. In that conversation led by Breitbart Washington Bureau Chief Matthew Boyle, Vance reviewed key accomplishments of the Trump-Vance administration. He also discussed what lies ahead as the administration moves into its third year.

The event was part of a continuing Breitbart News series spotlighting top administration officials. It was held in partnership with CGCN and the ALFA Institute.

The New Hampshire poll demonstrates the enormous advantage Vance enjoys as an incumbent vice president serving under Trump. No other potential candidate comes close to matching his current support levels among Republican primary voters in the key early state.

DeSantis finished in second place at just seven percent despite his 2024 presidential campaign that briefly positioned him as Trump’s main rival. His distant second-place showing suggests his appeal has diminished significantly since that race.

Rubio’s nine percent puts him slightly ahead of DeSantis but still nowhere near Vance’s dominant position. The fact that Rubio is reportedly already signaling he would not challenge Vance and might even join the ticket indicates how formidable Vance appears.

Haley performed well in New Hampshire during the 2024 primary but now registers only four percent in the 2028 polling. Her criticism of Trump during the last campaign appears to have damaged her standing with the Republican base.

Ramaswamy generated significant buzz during his 2024 campaign and emerged as a Trump ally. However, his four percent showing suggests his appeal remains limited despite his high-profile support for the Trump-Vance administration.

The poll results give Vance a clear path to the 2028 nomination if he chooses to run. With Trump’s backing virtually guaranteed and Rubio potentially as his running mate, Vance would enter the race as an overwhelming favorite.

His role as Finance Chairman at the RNC provides additional advantages. The fundraising success and organizational strength he is building now will directly benefit any future presidential campaign he launches.

Vance’s policy discussions with Breitbart News and other conservative media outlets help him maintain visibility and credibility with the Republican base. He is positioning himself as Trump’s natural successor to carry forward the America First agenda.

The 57-point gap between Vance and his nearest competitor represents one of the most commanding leads ever recorded this early in a presidential cycle. Barring unexpected developments, Vance appears to have a stranglehold on the 2028 Republican nomination.