{"id":2655528,"date":"2026-09-07T11:34:01","date_gmt":"2026-09-07T15:34:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wj-straw-poll-rubio-surges-to-commanding-lead\/"},"modified":"2026-09-07T11:38:32","modified_gmt":"2026-09-07T15:38:32","slug":"wj-straw-poll-rubio-surges-to-commanding-lead","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wj-straw-poll-rubio-surges-to-commanding-lead\/","title":{"rendered":"WJ Straw Poll: Rubio Surges to Commanding Lead"},"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\">16<\/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-rubio-surges-to-commanding-lead%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=2655528&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 content discusses the results of The Western Journal\u2019s latest 2028 Republican presidential straw poll. It highlights that Senator Marco Rubio has taken a strong lead with 41% of the vote, surpassing Vice President J.D. Vance, who received 29.1%. The poll also tracks fluctuations among various candidates, noting that Thomas Massie led two weeks ago but dropped to third place recently, while Vance and Rubio gained support. Donald Trump and Ron DeSantis received smaller percentages, at 7.4% and 6.3%, respectively. The survey saw increased participation,and the publication encourages reader engagement and ongoing tracking of opinions leading up to the primary elections. Additional features include options to vote in the poll,advertisements,and information about supporting the publication.  <\/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><script>console.log(\"ad slot (REP_0)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>Secretary of State Marco Rubio took a commanding lead in The Western Journal\u2019s latest 2028 Republican presidential straw poll this past week.<\/p>\n<p>Not only did the former Florida member of the Senate take back his top spot after two weeks in second place, but last week\u2019s leader tumbled all the way to third place.<\/p>\n<p>Rubio hauled in 41 percent of the vote in our non-scientific, Aug. 31 through Sept. 6 survey. That put him 11.9 points ahead of Vice President J.D. Vance, who finished at 29.1 percent.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 The votes are counted \u2014 here\u2019s this week\u2019s GOP 2028 straw poll:<\/p>\n<p>Marco Rubio \u2013 41%<br \/> JD Vance \u2013 29.1%<br \/> Thomas Massie \u2013 12%<br \/> Donald J. Trump \u2013 7.4%<br \/> Ron DeSantis \u2013 6.3%<br \/> Other \u2013 4.2%<\/p>\n<p>Did you get who you wanted?<\/p>\n<p>Submit a new vote each week at The Western Journal\u2019s\u2026 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/W2YU4AHNRA\">pic.twitter.com\/W2YU4AHNRA<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 The Western Journal (@WesternJournalX) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/WesternJournalX\/status\/2096966618131624242?\">September 7, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Since we began tracking reader sentiment about the 2028 primary earlier this year, Rubio and Vance had traded places atop the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/news-outlet-caves-to-democratic-senate-candidate-kills-poll-that-makes-her-look-bad\/\" title=\"News Outlet Caves to Democratic Senate Candidate, Kills ... That Makes Her Look Bad\">poll numerous times<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Rep. Thomas Massie, a Republican from Kentucky, took his first lead in the survey two weeks ago and held it last week.<\/p>\n<p>The Kentucky Republican rode a wave of support into the top spot after he d the straw poll on his X page.<\/p>\n<p>In the Sept. 6 survey, the outgoing Republican congressman slipped to third place, thanks to a strong showing of Rubio supporters who got involved on behalf of their preferred candidate.<\/p>\n<p>Rubio\u2019s support climbed 8.7 percentage points from the previous week, when he received 32.3 percent.<\/p>\n<p>Vance also made a notable upward move, gaining 11.7 percentage points from his previous 17.4 percent  of support.<\/p>\n<p>Massie fell from 37.9 percent support last week to 12 percent this week, a drop of 25.9 points.<\/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>President Donald Trump, who is term-limited and not running in 2028, has also consistently drawn dedicated support in our weekly survey.<\/p>\n<p>This past week, he received 7.4 percent, which was up from 5.6 percent <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wj-straw-poll-thomas-massie-leads-week-rubio-not-far-behind\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">the previous week<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis finished the week with the support of 6.3 percent of straw poll respondents, compared with 5 percent from last week.<\/p>\n<p>Candidates receiving less than 2 percent are grouped into the \u201cOther\u201d category, which reached 4.2 percent this week.<\/p>\n<p>The latest survey also drew substantially more responses than the previous one.<\/p>\n<p>Participation in this past week\u2019s survey grew by about 25 percent week to week.<\/p>\n<p>The Western Journal will continue tracking reader sentiment about the race until Republican primary voters have the opportunity to cast actual ballots.<\/p>\n<p>We would like to hear from you and other voices throughout the conservative movement.<\/p>\n<p>If you would like to make your voice heard in this week\u2019s survey, you can do so by <a href=\"https:\/\/forms.westernjournal.com\/strawpoll2028\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">clicking the link here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>We encourage you to  the poll with others who want their votes included in this week\u2019s survey.<\/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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