A new survey of California Republicans shows Vice President JD Vance with majority support if the state’s winner-takes-all Presidential Primary were held today, while two Florida men trail well behind.
Vance has 52% in the Emerson College poll, while other names tested are more niche.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio is in second place with 11%. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. is third at 10%, and Gov. Ron DeSantis’ 6% is good for fourth place.
An additional 12% don’t know who they want, while 9% want someone else in the poll of 339 likely Primary voters conducted Dec. 1 and 2.
Rubio is gaining support here, up from 4% in Emerson’s August poll. DeSantis is down from 9%.
Both Rubio and DeSantis have sidestepped any talk of future presidential ambitions. Rubio has said Vance would be a “great nominee,” with President Donald Trump suggesting Rubio as “somebody that maybe would get together with JD in some form.”
DeSantis currently says he’s “not thinking about anything” regarding a 2028 run, and criticized “jockeying” among those who look to succeed Trump. However, he also left the door open to running again after he withdrew from the presidential race last year.
Emerson also polled Democrats, and favorite son Gavin Newsom (a familiar foil for DeSantis) dominates with 36% support.
Pete Buttigieg’s 16% is good for second, followed by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (13%) and former Vice President Kamala Harris (9%), the latter of whom also is from the state.
