| J.D. Vance Republican · Declared | vs | Gretchen Whitmer Democratic · Exploring |
|---|---|---|
| 31.8% | Polling avg | 14.2% |
| -0.4 | 30-day change | +2.8 |
| -110 | Market line | +450 |
| $41.2M | Q2 raised | $14.9M |
| $68.9M | Cash on hand | $18.3M |
| 38% | Small dollar | 51% |
| 34% | Iowa | 17% |
| 29% | New Hampshire | 15% |
| 38% | South Carolina | 11% |
| 77 | Early-state staff | 33 |
| 19 | Field offices | 9 |
| Ohio | Home state | Michigan |
| 43 | Age | 56 |
J.D. Vance in Brief
The sitting vice president enters the 2028 cycle as the closest thing the Republican field has to an incumbent, inheriting a national donor network and near-universal name recognition among primary voters.
Case for: Consolidated institutional support, the largest small-dollar file in the field, and a polling floor no rival has yet been able to crack.
Case against: Frontrunner status invites the full weight of the field's opposition research, and his numbers have drifted slightly in suburban and independent samples.
Full J.D. Vance tracker →Gretchen Whitmer in Brief
Michigan's term-limited governor is the field's clearest Midwestern general-election argument, with a labor-aligned coalition and the fastest momentum of any Democrat currently in the top tier.
Case for: Fastest polling gain in the field, deep UAW and building-trades relationships, and a blue-wall electability pitch that tests well with primary voters.
Case against: A late start leaves her cash on hand well behind the declared frontrunners, and her national name recognition still trails.
Full Gretchen Whitmer tracker →