{"id":2652439,"date":"2026-08-31T15:47:00","date_gmt":"2026-08-31T19:47:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wj-straw-poll-massies-lead-shrinks-rubio-makes-up-ground\/"},"modified":"2026-08-31T16:05:32","modified_gmt":"2026-08-31T20:05:32","slug":"wj-straw-poll-massies-lead-shrinks-rubio-makes-up-ground","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wj-straw-poll-massies-lead-shrinks-rubio-makes-up-ground\/","title":{"rendered":"WJ Straw Poll: Massie\u2019s Lead Shrinks, Rubio Makes Up Ground"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fwj-straw-poll-massies-lead-shrinks-rubio-makes-up-ground%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2652439&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The article discusses the latest results from The Western Journal&#8217;s 2028 GOP presidential straw poll conducted between August 24 and 30. rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) continues to lead but with a significantly reduced margin, receiving 37.9% of the vote compared to 47.8% in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/americans-trust-non-mainstream-news-sources-as-much-as-mainstream-survey\/\" title=\"Americans Trust \u2018Non-Mainstream\u2019 News Sources As Much As \u2018Mainstream\u2019: Survey\">previous poll<\/a>. Marco Rubio moved into second place with 32.3%, gaining 6.2 percentage points. JD Vance secured third with 17.4%, while Donald Trump and Ron DeSantis garnered 5.6% and 5%,respectively. The poll highlights a notable shift in voter preferences from prior weeks, reflecting fluctuating support among potential candidates. Readers are encouraged to participate in future polls to influence the results, and the publication emphasizes tracking public sentiment for the upcoming 2028 primary elections.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><br \/>\n<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\"><br \/>\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><html><body><\/p>\n<section> \t\t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC4)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) remained on top of The Western Journal\u2019s latest 2028 GOP presidential straw poll for a second consecutive week.<\/p>\n<p>But his lead has shrunk sharply from the previous week.<\/p>\n<p>Our Aug. 24\u201330 poll saw Massie receive 37.9 percent of the vote, which was down 10.2 percentage points from last week.<\/p>\n<p>That still put the Kentucky Republican comfortably in first place, but with Secretary of State Marco Rubio not far behind in second place.<\/p>\n<p>Rubio received 32.3 percent, gaining 6.2 percentage points from the previous week \u2014 leaving Rubio only 5.6 points behind Massie.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8Results are in \u2014 here\u2019s this week\u2019s GOP 2028 straw poll (Aug. 24-30):<\/p>\n<p>Thomas Massie \u2013 37.9%<br \/> Marco Rubio \u2013 32.3%<br \/> JD Vance \u2013 17.4%<br \/> Donald J. Trump \u2013 5.6%<br \/> Ron DeSantis \u2013 5%<br \/> Other \u2013 1.7%<\/p>\n<p>Don\u2019t like this week\u2019s results? Vote right now at <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/1oRKpBgCdE\">https:\/\/t.co\/1oRKpBgCdE<\/a> and  with your\u2026 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/1whiuaKUgX\">pic.twitter.com\/1whiuaKUgX<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 The Western Journal (@WesternJournalX) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/WesternJournalX\/status\/2094475244605956490?\">August 31, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Vice President J.D. Vance finished third with 17.4 percent of the vote, and gained 3.2 percentage points from his previous total.<\/p>\n<p>President Donald Trump received 5.6 percent, which was up slightly from 4.9 percent.<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis received 5 percent support, which was down from 5.1 percent the previous week.<\/p>\n<p>Candidates receiving less than 2 percent are grouped into the \u201cOther\u201d category, which received 1.7 percent this week.<\/p>\n<p>The numbers mark a major change from last week\u2019s poll.<\/p>\n<p>Massie received 47.8 percent in the Aug. 17\u201323 survey, while Rubio pulled in 25.7 percent.<\/p>\n<p>Vance had 14 percent, followed by DeSantis at 5.1 percent and Trump at 4.9 percent.<\/p>\n<p>Massie surged dramatically last week after the congressman and his supporters d the poll on X, with many encouraging one another to participate in our non-scientific survey.<\/p>\n<p>The week prior, he polled at 12.7 percent.<\/p>\n<p>If you want your preferred candidate\u2019s name represented in next week\u2019s results, you can make your voice heard by <a href=\"https:\/\/forms.westernjournal.com\/strawpoll2028\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">clicking here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The Western Journal will be tracking reader sentiment about the 2028 Republican primary until voters get a chance to cast their ballots in the primary.<\/p>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f7f7f7; color: #171717; display: flex;font-size: 16px;font-weight: 600;line-height: 1.5;margin: 24px 0;padding: 18px 20px 18px 30px;text-align: left;\">\n<div style=\"align-self: stretch;border-left: 3px solid #171717;flex-shrink: 0;padding-left: 20px;\"><\/div>\n<p><a style=\"text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/\">Choose The Western Journal as your preferred source on Google and never miss reporting that defends truth, protects freedom, and advances Western civilization<\/a><\/div>\n<p style=\"border: 1px solid #f5f5f5; padding: 16px;\">Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/advertise-us\/?wj_source=article\">Advertise Today<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* Name<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* <\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<label>* Message<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t<textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\"> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> \t\t<script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey == typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts = { \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs = [ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i = 0; i < inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! 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Thomas Massie (R-KY) leads in the 2028 GOP straw poll, but his margin has decreased significantly from last week<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2652440,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Michael-Featured-Image-1331.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[6571,4850,5894,15698,5438],"class_list":["post-2652439","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-elections","tag-massie","tag-politics","tag-polling","tag-rubio"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Michael-Featured-Image-1331.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2652439","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2652439"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2652439\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2652453,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2652439\/revisions\/2652453"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2652440"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2652439"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2652439"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2652439"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}