UPDATE: A new Yale youth poll reveals that Vice President JD Vance is the clear favorite for the Republican presidential nomination with a striking 51% support if the election were held tomorrow. The poll, conducted by Verasight, surveyed 3,426 registered voters between October 29 and November 11, 2025, highlighting significant trends among younger voters.
In a surprising twist, Vance leads Donald Trump Jr. by an astonishing 43 points, while Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis trails significantly at just 6%. Despite his low polling numbers, an impressive 79% of respondents believe DeSantis could win a general election against a Democrat, with 71% saying the same for Vance.
Meanwhile, if former President Donald Trump were to run for a third term, he would garner 50% support, with Vance receiving 19% in a hypothetical GOP primary. Notably, just 20% of respondents aged 18-22 and 28% of those 23-29 expressed support for Trump, indicating a generational divide in Republican preferences.
On the Democratic side, California Gov. Gavin Newsom leads with 25% support, followed by former Vice President Kamala Harris at 18%, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez at 16%, and former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg at 14%. The poll indicates significant variations in support among demographic groups, with Ocasio-Cortez leading among Democrats under 35 with 32% backing.
The electability analysis shows that 85% of Democrats view Newsom as their strongest candidate against a generic Republican, underscoring his potential as a front-runner for the general election. The poll highlights a critical insight: younger and older voters within both parties largely agree on the most electable candidates for 2028.
The implications of this poll are significant as it suggests a shift in voter support dynamics. With both Vance and Newsom gaining traction, the landscape for the 2028 presidential election is rapidly evolving. As political campaigns gear up, all eyes will be on these candidates as they navigate the primaries.
Stay tuned for further updates as this story develops and the 2028 presidential race heats up.
