Lawmakers are now setting their sights on the 2024 presidential elections. As Democrats debate whether President Joe Biden (D) should run for reelection, Republicans are debating what their options will be in the primary.
President Donald Trump (R) has already announced his candidacy, and a few other prominent Republicans are speculated to join the race. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) has quickly propelled in popularity as a possible presidential candidate, and in a new poll, he outperforms President Trump in support.
Ahead of the November election, President Trump directed choice words at Governor DeSantis, dubbing him "Ron DeSanctimonious." This surprised Republican lawmakers and conservative voters, considering that years ago Trump had fully endorsed the Florida Governor. Since DeSantis' win, Trump has amped up his criticism of the Governor, calling him disloyal for not quickly putting out rumors that he's launching a presidential run.
With Trump and DeSantis as two popular candidates, poll after poll indicates that DeSantis is gaining support, and a new poll from the Wall Street Journal shows that DeSantis leads Trump by 14 points in a hypothetical primary race.
The survey shows that DeSantis has 52% of support compared to Trump's 38% among likely Republican voters. Moreover, DeSantis leads in his approval rating, which is currently at 84%. In contrast, 71% of those surveyed approve of President Trump.
DeSantis has not indicated that he plans to run for the White House in 2024, and when asked about the prospect, he has reiterated that his focus is on the governorship.
Aside from DeSantis, there is speculation surrounding the likes of South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley (R), Vice President Mike Pence (R), and Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin (R) preparing to launch presidential bids.
Along with directing criticism at Governor DeSantis, President Trump has also criticized Governor Youngkin, accusing him of having a fledgling gubernatorial campaign before he endorsed him.
