If the 2028 presidential election were held today, JD Vance and Pete Buttigieg would be on the ballot.

That’s according to the latest “Granite State Poll” out of the University of New Hampshire’s political center, where Vice President Vance received 51% of his party’s vote and former Transportation Secretary Buttigieg 19% from the Democratic side.

“It’s basically name recognition now,” said Andy Smith, UNH professor and director of polling. “It’s just a snapshot of the early front-runners.”

But, he told the Herald Tuesday, whoever shows the strongest in New Hampshire usually wins the state and the party’s nomination — that’s especially true for Republican candidates.

Vice President Vance is in “a solid position,” said Smith, yet so many factors are yet to come into focus as President D

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