The Most Popular Republicans in the US (#1 May Surprise You)

Published: May 12, 2024 by Justin Zipprich

If you’re a member of the Republican Party or you follow their politics, you likely have a few politicians on that side of the aisle that you hold in high regard more than others. Many Republicans are newer to the party, while many others were crucial to the policies that the party favors today. You’ll find folks from both of those groups in this list of the most popular Republicans in the US.

To determine the most popular Republicans in the US, 24/7 Tempo consulted a list created by the website YouGov. They surveyed people in the country and asked how many of them had a positive opinion of the politicians on this list. That’s what we’re going by, the popularity of each individual.

This list is an update from the Most Popular Republicans list we put out last month. Since that time, many of the politicians have either gone up and down on this list. Some of them have fallen off of the list from last time for different reasons. Former Vice President Dan Quayle likely fell off of this list because he’s been out of the public eye for many years. Alternatively, Kevin McCarthy also fell off the list, likely due to recent real-life events that forced him out of the position of Speaker of the House.

Meanwhile, there are some new names on the list, including Barry Goldwater, who was a United States senator for many years and also ran for President in 1964. Another new face is Michael Steele, who is the first African American to be the chair of the Republican National Committee and Lieutenant Governor of Maryland. To learn more about these politicians and others who have run the country, see this list of the most surprising facts about every American President.

25. Dick Cheney

Dick Cheney served as vice president under George W. Bush.

Popularity: 32%
Updated Ranking: Down from #20
Known For: Former Vice President of the United States

24. Michael Steele

Michael Steele was the first African-American lieutenant governor of Maryland.

Popularity: 32%
Updated Ranking: New on the List
Known For: Former Lieutenant Governor of Maryland and Chair of Republican National Committee

23. Adam Kinzinger

Adam Kinzinger eventually joined CNN as a senior political commentator.

Popularity: 32%
Updated Ranking: Down from #17
Known For: Current Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois

22. Mitt Romney

Mitt Romney remains the U.S. Junior Senator of Utah.

Popularity: 33%
Updated Ranking: Stayed the Same
Known For: Current U.S. Junior Senator of Utah

21. Tom Cotton

Tom Cotton served in the U.S. House of Representatives for two years.

Popularity: 33%
Updated Ranking: New on the List
Known For: Junior United States Senator from Arkansas

20. Mike Huckabee

Mike Huckabee was a presidential candidate in 2008 and 2016.

Popularity: 33%
Updated Ranking: Down from #13
Known For: Former Governor of Arkansas and Former Presidential Candidate

19. Greg Abbott

Greg Abbott is the current governor of Texas.

Popularity: 33%
Updated Ranking: Down from #15
Known For: Current Governor of Texas

18. Vivek Ramaswamy

Vivek Ramaswamy began his 2024 presidential campaign last year.

Popularity: 34%
Updated Ranking: New on the List
Known For: Former Presidential Candidate (2023)

17. Herman Cain

Popularity: 34%
Updated Ranking: New on the List
Known For: Businessman and Former Presidential Candidate (2012)

16. Barry Goldwater

Barry Goldwater served as a U.S. Senator for many years.

Popularity: 34%
Updated Ranking: New on the List
Known For: Former Senator of Arizona and Former Presidential Candidate

15. Nikki Haley

Nikki Haley was the first female governor in South Carolina.

Popularity: 34%
Updated Ranking: Up from #24
Known For: Former United States Ambassador to the United Nations and Former Presidential Candidate

14. Elizabeth Dole

Elizabeth Dole served as the director of the White House Office of Public Liaison and as the United States Secretary of Transportation.

Popularity: 35%
Updated Ranking: Down from #10
Known For: Director of the White House Office of Public Liaison and United States Secretary of Transportation

13. Marco Rubio

Popularity: 35%
Updated Ranking: Up from #19
Known For: U.S. Senator from Florida and Former Presidential Candidate

12. Newt Gingrich

Newt Gingrich became known for his conservative ideals.

Popularity: 36%
Updated Ranking: Down from #16
Known For: Former Member of the House of Representatives from Georgia

11. Rand Paul

Rand Paul was a presidential candidate in 2016.

Popularity: 37%
Updated Ranking: Stayed the Same
Known For: Senator from Kentucky and Former Presidential Candidate

10. Bob Dole

Both Bob Dole and his wife were involved in politics.

Popularity: 38%
Updated Ranking: Down from #9
Known For: Former Republican Leader of the Senate

9. Tim Scott

Tim Scott currently serves as the U.S. Senator of South Carolina.

Popularity: 38%
Updated Ranking: Down from #8
Known For: Junior Senator from South Carolina and Former Presidential Candidate

8. Henry Kissinger

Popularity: 40%
Updated Ranking: Down from #5
Known For: Former U.S. Secretary of State

7. Ron DeSantis

Popularity: 40%
Updated Ranking: Down from #6
Known For: Governor of Florida and Former Presidential Candidate

6. Ted Cruz

Ted Cruz defended freedom of speech and other rights.

Popularity: 40%
Updated Ranking: Up from #12
Known For: Senator from Texas

5. Sarah Palin

Person voting for John McCain in the US presidential election — John McCain selected Sarah Palin as his running mate during the 2008 presidential election.

Popularity: 41%
Updated Ranking: Down from #7
Known For: Former Governor of Alaska

4. Donald Trump

Donald Trump served as president from 2017 to 2021.

Popularity: 43%
Updated Ranking: Down from #3
Known For: Former President of the United States

3. Ben Carson

Popularity: 44%
Updated Ranking: Down from #2
Known For: Retired Neurosurgeon and Former United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development