New Poll: Trump Leads in FL, DeSantis Not Far Behind

While Trump maintains his kingship over the Republican party, new polls that have the president winning in Florida over Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL) in his own state.  However, the data seems hopeful for the governor as the GOP field continues to grow.

A new Florida Atlantic University Mainstreet PolCom Lab poll showed that Trump held a 20-point lead over DeSantis among registered GOP voters when asked whom they would support if the 2024 primary were held today.  About 50% of voters sided with former President Trump (R), 30% for DeSantis, and 7% undecided.  The remainder went to other candidates like Vivek Ramaswamy (R).

In April, a similar poll showed Trump held a 24-point lead over DeSantis, with 57 percent supporting Trump, 33 percent supporting DeSantis, 5 percent undecided, and approximately 6 percent support for other candidates.  If anything, the numbers over the course of this year show how dynamic and uncertain this primary season ought to be.

DeSantis has seen a 3% drop since April, however a survey of all voters, not just Republicans, shows more support for DeSantis.  54 percent approve of DeSantis (41 percent strongly, 13 percent somewhat), and 43 percent disapprove (34 percent strongly, 9 percent somewhat).

While Trump is still maintaining a 20 point lead over DeSantis, who is in second place by almost all metrics, the data should still be a cause for concern for the former president.  As the leader of the party, and somebody who revitalized the GOP, one would expect Trump to win this primary just as easily as he won the 2020 primary when he won by almost no-contest.  Despite this, DeSantis has managed to carry a third of Republican voters ahead of any primary debates.