The 2028 Republican presidential race is already heating up with some stunning developments.
Two Florida powerhouses are squaring off in a battle that nobody saw coming this early.
And Marco Rubio just got shocking news about Ron DeSantis that’ll change everything.
Florida’s GOP titans clash in early 2028 showdown
The dust hasn’t even settled from President Donald Trump’s historic victory, but the 2028 Republican presidential race is already taking shape in ways that’ll surprise political observers.
A new Echelon Insights poll shows Florida’s two biggest Republican stars duking it out for runner-up status behind Vice President JD Vance.¹
Governor Ron DeSantis sits at 9% while Secretary of State Marco Rubio holds 7% in the early numbers.
Vance dominates with 42% support, leaving everyone else fighting for scraps.
Other big names barely register: Nikki Haley manages 6%, RFK Jr. pulls 5%, Vivek Ramaswamy gets 4%, while Ted Cruz and Sarah Huckabee Sanders each grab 3%.
What makes this particularly interesting is that President Trump has praised both Florida Republicans recently, setting up what could be a fascinating primary battle between two of his strongest allies.
Trump’s playing favorites with both men
Trump threw Rubio a bone back in May when he floated him as a potential successor. That’s gold for any Republican looking to inherit the MAGA movement.
DeSantis got his own Trump love fest at the “Alligator Alcatraz” opening this month.
“We have blood that seems to match pretty well,” Trump said of DeSantis, suggesting a level of personal connection that could prove valuable in 2028.²
This creates an interesting dynamic where both men can claim Trump’s blessing while positioning themselves as the natural heir to the America First movement.
Polling has shown both Rubio ahead of DeSantis and DeSantis ahead of Rubio at different times, with both remaining far behind Vice President Vance.
But what’s remarkable is that both Florida Republicans are proving to be “sticky” with at least a segment of the electorate, even years before the presidential race becomes less hypothetical.
Florida Republicans love their leadership
The strong showing for both DeSantis and Rubio makes perfect sense when you look at how Florida Republicans view their state’s leadership.
A separate St. Pete Polls survey shows that 82% of Florida Republicans approve of President Trump’s job performance, while just 12% disapprove.³
But here’s the kicker – Governor DeSantis actually has even stronger support among Florida Republicans, with more than 83% giving him good marks and less than 12% expressing disapproval.
That’s an absolutely remarkable approval rating that explains why DeSantis continues to poll well despite his unsuccessful 2024 presidential campaign.
U.S. Senator Rick Scott, who won re-election in November, doesn’t quite reach those heights but still boasts 70% approval among Republican voters in his own party.
Less than 15% disapprove of his work in Washington, D.C.
Ashley Moody and Byron Donalds face name recognition challenges
The polling also reveals some interesting dynamics for other Florida Republicans who might have statewide ambitions.
Senator Ashley Moody faces a different challenge – she’s still building name recognition after her recent appointment.⁴
Just under 59% of Florida Republicans approve of her Senate work so far, while 11% disapprove.
The problem? More than 30% don’t know enough about her to have an opinion.
Congressman Byron Donalds, who’s running for Governor, has similar numbers – 57% approval, less than 11% disapproval, but over 32% remain unsure.
The bigger picture for Republican leadership
The broader picture shows Florida Republicans love where their state is heading.
Nearly 82% say Florida’s on the right track, while just under 13% disagree.
Support stayed pretty solid across the board, but Black Republicans weren’t as sold on some of these names – especially DeSantis, Scott, and Donalds.
The strongest support came from Republicans over 70, with the weakest among those under 30 – but all age groups still gave positive ratings.
What this means for 2028
The early polling suggests that if Vice President Vance decides not to run or stumbles somehow, the 2028 Republican primary could very well come down to a battle between two Florida men.
Look, both these guys come from Florida – the state that put Trump back in the White House. That’s no accident.
DeSantis made his name picking fights with woke corporations and Disney. Rubio’s got the foreign policy chops and speaks to Hispanic voters.
Here’s the thing – they’re both already making moves for 2028 while keeping their Florida approval numbers sky-high. That tells you everything about how serious they are.
We’re still years out from actual voting, but these two aren’t going anywhere. They’re staying relevant and building support while everyone else fades into the background.
That’s setting up what could be one of the most interesting primary battles in recent memory – a clash between two proven conservatives from America’s most important swing state.
¹ A.G. Gancarski, “Ron DeSantis, Marco Rubio battle for second place in 2028 GOP poll,” Florida Politics, July 14, 2025.
² Ibid.
³ Jacob Ogles, “Poll: Voters largely approve job performance of Donald Trump and Ron DeSantis,” Florida Politics, July 14, 2025.
⁴ Ibid.
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Author: rgcory
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