A new poll for the pivotal New Hampshire Republican presidential primary indicates that Vice President JD Vance holds a strong lead, reflecting trends seen throughout President Trump’s second term.
Conducted by the Saint Anselm College Survey Center from March 16-18, the poll shows Vance with 46 percent support. Following him is Secretary of State Marco Rubio at 27 percent, while Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and former UN ambassador Nikki Haley are tied at five percent each.
It is notable that Ohio gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy and National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard each garnered two percent, with Senator Ted Cruz and Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin receiving just one percent. Additionally, eight percent of participants expressed uncertainty, and five percent chose other candidates.
Despite Vance’s leading position in the poll, his 46 percent reflects a drop from the 57 percent found in the November 2025 survey. In contrast, Rubio has seen considerable gains, tripling his support from nine percent in the prior poll to 27 percent now, suggesting a positive trend.
Meanwhile, candidates DeSantis and Haley, both of whom actively campaigned in New Hampshire during the 2024 election, have remained stagnant in their numbers.
🚨 WOW! JD Vance and Marco Rubio were just found to be the CLEAR top two candidates for the 2028 Republican presidential nomination in New Hampshire
Rubio has more than doubled his vote share from October, impressive!
JD and Marco are both great 🇺🇸
Democrats have to pick… pic.twitter.com/rDmUadLReP
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) March 23, 2026
New Hampshire plays a vital role in the Republican nominating process, traditionally hosting one of the earliest presidential primaries. Known as the first-in-the-nation Republican primary after Iowa, it has the power to shape campaign momentum.
The outcomes here can significantly influence which campaigns secure necessary resources and proceed to future contests. A strong performance can build support and deter rivals, while disappointing results may lead to strategic shifts or withdrawals.
Even with changing dynamics due to earlier voting in other states and the involvement of super PACs, the New Hampshire primary remains a critical early marker in the Republican selection process.
