A new Emerson College Polling survey indicates that President Donald Trump has a 39% job approval rating, while 55% disapprove of his performance. This marks a slight change from last month, with a one-point decrease in both approval and disapproval ratings.
In the race for the 2028 Republican nomination, Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are leading contenders, with 36% supporting Vance and 35% supporting Rubio. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley each receive 5% support, while 15% of respondents are undecided. Spencer Kimball, executive director of Emerson College Polling, noted that Rubio has gained support among Republican primary voters over 50, leading Vance by 41% to 35%, while Vance leads among voters under 50, 37% to 26%.
For the Democratic primary, former Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg leads with 18%, followed closely by California Governor Gavin Newsom at 16%. Other candidates include Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez at 11%, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro at 10%, former Vice President Kamala Harris at 10%, and Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear at 9%. Eighteen percent of voters are undecided. Buttigieg's support has increased by two points since February, while Newsom's has decreased by four points.
On the generic midterm congressional ballot, Democrats hold a nine-point lead over Republicans, 50% to 41%, with 9% undecided. A majority of voters believe both the Democratic Party (58%) and Republican Party (59%) are on the wrong track. Among party members, 67% of Democrats and 76% of Republicans feel their respective parties are not headed in the right direction.
Regarding U.S. military intervention in Cuba, 57% of voters oppose such action, while 23% support it, and 20% are unsure. Opposition is noted among Hispanic voters, who oppose intervention by a 16-point margin, and among white and Black voters as well. The economy is identified as the top issue for voters at 41%, with concerns about threats to democracy rising to 19% and immigration concerns decreasing to 11%.
The Emerson College Polling national survey was conducted from May 24-25, 2026, with a sample size of 1,000 likely voters and a credibility interval of +/- 3%. The survey methodology included demographic weighting based on U.S. Census parameters and voter file data.
