RFK Jr. and Rubio reign as the only Washington figures with a positive favorability rating
Only Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have positive net favorability among a dozen U.S. political figures, according to a new poll.
Mr. Kennedy had the best numbers with a 7% positive favorability score, the difference between his 44% net favorable ratings and 37% net unfavorable ratings, according to the April 2026 Harvard CAPS/HarrisX survey.
Mr. Rubio had a positive favorable rating of 4%, with a net favorable rating of 37% and a net unfavorable rating of 33%.
Most of President Trump’s current cabinet members were excluded from the ballot. Only Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth were included.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks…
more >
Mr. Hegseth had a -6% favorability rating, with Americans giving him a net favorability rating of 27% and a net unfavorability rating of 33%.
Among more than a dozen U.S. political figures listed in the favorability survey, Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (-20%), former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem (-17%) and conservative political commentator Tucker Carlson (-14%) had the worst scores.
Mr. Schumer found himself in the hot seat, particularly among progressive Democrats, for his handling of the government shutdown last year. Many accused him of a lack of leadership after authorizing a funding deal with Republicans.
Ms. Noem’s unpopularity stems from a tumultuous tenure as head of the Department of Homeland Security, characterized by personal controversies, high-profile mismanagement and accusations of using her position for personal branding purposes.
As someone whose brand has been characterized by polarizing opinions and comments, Mr. Carlson’s unpopularity may stem from his shift toward far-right rhetoric and promotion of conspiracy theories.
While Mr. Trump’s net favorability stood at -9%, those who said they had a very unfavorable opinion of him made up 40%, the highest figure of any US political figure listed.
Among leading Democratic figures, California Governor Gavin Newsom had a favorable score of -8% and former Vice President Kamala Harris had a favorable score of -5%.
When pollsters asked Republicans, “Who do you prefer to be the next Republican nominee for president?” » The top choice was Vice President JD Vance with 48%.
The president’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., comes in second with 18%. Mr. Rubio was the third most popular choice at 16%, despite his positive favorable ranking.
On the favorability scale, Mr. Vance was slightly underwater at -2%, with a net favorable of 41% and a net unfavorable of 42%.
Donald Trump Jr. was not in the favorable ranking.
Mr. Vance and Mr. Rubio emerge as the leading contenders for the 2028 Republican presidential nomination, with the second-in-command currently considered the favorite. Although they are close allies, Mr. Rubio’s shares have risen, leading to speculation about a potential primary battle or joint ticket. The president expressed his support for both men.
Harvard CAPS/HarrisX conducted the survey of 2,745 registered voters between April 23-26. The margin of error for the total sample is +/- 1.87 points.
