Trending Now - Rubio Gains Ground in 2028 Race; Buttigieg, Newsom Lead Dems

WHO:

Emerson Polling - President Donald Trump has a 39% job approval rating.

Emerson Polling - Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are the top contenders for the 2028 Republican nomination.

Emerson Polling - Former Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg leads the Democratic primary.

Emerson Polling - California Governor Gavin Newsom is a contender in the Democratic primary.

Emerson Polling - Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, former Vice President Kamala Harris, and Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear are also Democratic candidates.

Alternet - CNN’s Harry Enten is the chief data analyst discussing Rubio's popularity.

Alternet - Ann Coulter is a conservative commentator expressing skepticism about Rubio.

WHAT:

Emerson Polling - Support for Rubio has climbed 15 percentage points since February, placing him within 1 point of Vance.

Alternet - According to CNN’s Harry Enten, Rubio's odds of being the GOP nominee jumped from 11% in January to 30% by the end of May.

Alternet - Rubio has a net approval rating of +77 points among Republicans, the highest of any Trump administration official.

Alternet - Rubio has a -6 net approval rating among all voters, while Vance has a -15 net approval rating.

Emerson Polling - The Republican primary has shifted significantly since February, when 52% supported Vance and 20% supported Rubio; now, Vance has 36% and Rubio has 35%.

Emerson Polling - Buttigieg’s support increased from 16% to 18%, while Newsom’s support decreased from 20% to 16%.

Emerson Polling - The top issue for voters is the economy at 41%, the highest of the calendar year.

Emerson Polling - Concern for threats to democracy increased from 15% to 19%.

Emerson Polling - 58% of voters think the Democratic Party is on the wrong track, while 59% think the Republican Party is also on the wrong track.

Emerson Polling - 55% of voters disapprove of President Trump's job performance.

Emerson Polling - 36% support Vance, 35% support Rubio, while 5% support Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley, respectively.

Emerson Polling - 18% of Democratic primary voters support Buttigieg, 16% support Newsom, and 11% support Ocasio-Cortez.

Emerson Polling - 57% of voters oppose U.S. military intervention in Cuba.

Alternet - Rubio's odds of being the GOP nominee jumped from 11% in January to 30% by the end of May.

Alternet - Rubio has a net approval rating of +77 points among Republicans, the highest of any Trump administration official.

WHERE:

Emerson Polling - The polling data was collected from U.S. likely voters.

WHEN:

Emerson Polling - The national survey was conducted May 24-25, 2026.

Alternet - The prediction market Kalshi reported Rubio's odds by the end of May.

WHY:

Alternet - Rubio's popularity has grown due to less precarious tasks and positive media coverage compared to Vance, who has faced setbacks.

Emerson Polling - The Republican primary has shifted significantly since February, indicating changing voter preferences.

Alternet - Rubio's popularity has grown due to less precarious tasks and positive media coverage compared to Vance.

HOW:

Emerson Polling - The survey was conducted with a sample of 1,000 U.S. likely voters, with a credibility interval of +/- 3 percent.

Emerson Polling - The survey was conducted with a sample of 1,000 U.S. likely voters, with a credibility interval of +/- 3 percent.

Emerson Polling - The survey was conducted using a sample of 1,000 U.S. likely voters with a credibility interval of +/- 3 percent.

Alternet - Rubio's rising popularity is evidenced by the prediction market Kalshi and his net approval rating from Quinnipiac.

(UPDATED May 29, 2026 01:36 UTC)

Support for Rubio has surged by 15 percentage points since February, bringing him within just one point of Vance, according to Emerson Polling. CNN's Harry Enten reports that Rubio's chances of securing the GOP nomination have increased from 11% in January to 30% by the end of May, bolstered by a remarkable net approval rating of +77 points among Republicans, the highest of any Trump administration official. While Rubio holds a -6 net approval rating among all voters, Vance trails with a -15 rating, reflecting the impact of positive media coverage on Rubio's rising popularity amid Vance's recent setbacks.

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(UPDATED May 28, 2026 21:37 UTC)

Recent polling from Emerson shows a notable shift in the Republican primary, with Trump now at 36% support and Rubio closely trailing at 35%, a significant change from February when Vance led with 52%. Meanwhile, Buttigieg's support has risen slightly to 18%, while Newsom's has dropped to 16%, and the economy remains the top concern for voters at 41%. Additionally, 58% of voters believe the Democratic Party is on the wrong track, and 59% feel the same about the Republican Party, based on a survey of 1,000 likely voters with a credibility interval of plus or minus 3 percent.

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(UPDATED May 28, 2026 14:17 UTC)

President Trump currently holds a job approval rating of 39%, with 55% of voters expressing disapproval of his performance. In the race for the 2028 Republican nomination, Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are the top contenders, while former Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg leads the Democratic primary, followed closely by California Governor Gavin Newsom and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Notably, Rubio's odds of securing the GOP nomination have surged from 11% in January to 30% by the end of May, bolstered by a net approval rating of +77 points among Republicans, the highest of any Trump administration official.