A new Gallup poll highlighted the polarized state of the United States, finding that no national political figure has neared 50% approval.
A Gallup poll conducted from Dec. 1 to Dec. 15 found that Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell was the highest-rated national political figure at 44%, followed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio at 41%. The duo were the only two who had an approval rating above 40%, with the rest ranging from 28% to 39%.
The most unpopular figure was Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), who had a 28% approval rating. His Republican counterpart, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD), came in not far ahead at 34%.
Responses were heavily polarized along political lines. Vice President JD Vance ranked as the single most popular figure in his party with a 91% approval rating, even surpassing President Donald Trump among Republicans, who gave him an 89% approval rating. Vance’s overall approval rating was 39%; however, it was weighed down by heavy disapproval from Democrats, who gave him just a 5% approval rating.
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House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Attorney General Pam Bondi, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. were all closely clustered in approval ratings, ranging from 35% to 39%.
Rubio’s status as the second most popular political figure bodes well for his future political ambitions, surpassing the popularity of the 2028 presidential nominee favorite — Vance. However, the vice president’s unparalleled popularity among Republicans would disadvantage him in a primary, with Rubio trailing his approval at 84%.