Only Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Secretary of State Marco Rubio boast positive net favorability among a dozen American political figures, according to a new poll.
Mr. Kennedy had the best numbers with a positive favorability score of 7%, the difference between his 44% net favorable and 37% net unfavorable ratings, according to the April 2026 Harvard CAPS/HarrisX survey.
Mr. Rubio scored a positive favorability of 4%, with net favorability of 37% and net unfavorability of 33%.
Most of President Trump’s current Cabinet members were excluded from the poll. Only Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth were included.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks …
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Mr. Hegseth had a -6% favorability rating, with Americans giving him a 27% net favorability and 33% net unfavorability score.
Of more than a dozen American political figures listed on 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 last year’s government shutdown. Many accused him of poor leadership after allowing a funding deal with Republicans.
Ms. Noem’s unpopularity stemmed from a tumultuous tenure leading the Department of Homeland Security, characterized by personal controversies, high-profile mismanagement and accusations of using her position for personal branding.
As someone whose name brand has been characterized by polarizing opinions and comments, Mr. Carlson’s unpopularity may stem from his shift towards extreme right-wing rhetoric and promotion of conspiracy theories.
While Mr. Trump’s net favorability sat at -9%, those who said they held a very unfavorable view of him made 40% — the most of any American political figure listed.
Among top Democratic figures, California Gov. Gavin Newsom scored -8% favorability and former Vice President Kamala Harris came in at -5% favorability.
When the pollsters asked Republicans, “Who do you favor to be the next Republican candidate for president?” the top choice was Vice President J.D. Vance at 48%.
The president’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., came in second with 18%. Mr. Rubio was the third most popular pick at 16%, despite his positive favorability ranking.
On the favorability scale, Mr. Vance was slightly underwater at -2%, with a net favorability of 41% and net unfavorability of 42%.
Donald Trump Jr. was not included in the favorability rankings.
Mr. Vance and Mr. Rubio are emerging as top contenders for the 2028 Republican presidential nomination, with the second-in-command currently viewed as the frontrunner. While they are close allies, Mr. Rubio’s stock has risen, leading to speculation of a potential primary battle or a joint ticket. The president has expressed support for both men.
Harvard CAPS/HarrisX conducted the survey of 2,745 registered voters between April 23 and 26. The margin of error for the total sample is +/- 1.87 points.
