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By Sam Stevenson
Associate News Editor
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Vice President JD Vance's support among lower‑income Republican voters has weakened significantly in recent months, according to a new poll.
Surveys conducted by YouGov show that between January and April, Vance's support among Republicans earning under $50,000 fell, mirroring a broader dip in his overall backing.
Early shifts among working‑class voters may signal deeper uncertainty within a key Republican voting bloc ahead of the midterm elections this year, and the next presidential cycle in 2028.
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Newsweek contacted the Vice President's office for comment via its contact form on the White House website.
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Why It Matters
Working‑class Republicans have long been central to Republican coalition‑building. A drop in support within this group raises questions about whether enthusiasm for Vance is softening as voters reassess potential 2028 contenders.
If the trend continues, Vance could face a challenge maintaining his dominance among voters who have historically formed the backbone of GOP primary victories.
What To Know
In a YouGov survey conducted between January 9 and 14, 2026, 41 percent of respondents said they would ideally choose Vance for the 2028 Republican presidential nomination.
Support was even stronger among voters with family incomes under $50,000, where he captured 45 percent.
The question was posed to Republicans and independents who lean toward the Republican Party. The poll surveyed 2,250 U.S. adult citizens and had a margin of error of +/- 2.8 percentage points, adjusted for weighting.
A follow-up YouGov survey, conducted between April 8 and 13, showed that Vance's overall support had dropped to 36 percent.
Among respondents earning under $50,000, Vance's backing slipped to 37 percent. That represents an eight‑point decline among lower‑income Republican‑leaning voters and a five‑point drop overall.
In the April poll, 13 percent of respondents chose both Donald Trump Jr. and Marco Rubio as their ideal choices; followed by Ron DeSantis on six percent; Mike Pence, Ted Cruz and Robert F Kennedy Jr. on two percent; and Nikki Haley, Vivek Ramaswamy, and Glenn Youngkin on one percent each.
The survey included 2,189 U.S. adult citizens and had a margin of error of +/- 2.8 percentage points, adjusted for weighting.
While Vance remains the most selected option tested in the poll, the findings indicates that Republican voters with lower household incomes are increasingly open to alternatives.
The shift comes early, but it highlights how fluid the 2028 Republican field still appears to be more than two years out.
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