DeSantis Tops Hypothetical 2024 Republican Poll, CNN Survey Finds

In the latest CNN Poll, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) leads the hypothetical 2024 GOP primary pack, deviating from the findings of numerous other national polls as speculation about the popular governor’s political future grows.

Former President Donald Trump and Nikki Haley are both running, as are Gov. DeSantis, Vice President Mike Pence, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, and former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, according to the survey.

DeSantis leads the pack among registered voters who expect to vote in the Republican presidential primary or caucus in 2024, with 39 percent support. Trump is two points behind, with 37% support. Importantly, that is within the 4.2 percent margin of error for that sample.

No other conceivable candidate received double-digit support, with Haley coming in third with 7%, followed by Pence with 6%. Every other contender received less than 2% of the vote:

2024 National Republican Primary

• DeSantis — 39%
• Trump — 37%
• Haley — 7%
• Pence — 6%
• T. Scott — 2%
• Sununu — 2%
• Hutchinson — 1%
• Pompeo — 1%
• Youngkin — 1%

CNN/SSRS | 963 RV | March 8-12https://t.co/8zj8DWPyAL pic.twitter.com/g6vJaQfEpJ

— InteractivePolls (@IAPolls2022) March 14, 2023

The overall replies — not just among registered voters — showed Trump with 40 percent to DeSantis’s 36 percent, which is still within the +/- 4 percent margin of error for that data set.

Although DeSantis has a two-point advantage among white respondents, Trump has a 29-point lead among non-white respondents. Trump also has a 41 percent advantage among independents, compared to DeSantis’ 33 percent. Both have 42 percent support among conservative voters, but Trump has a five-point advantage among those who identify themselves as “extremely” conservative.

The poll of 1,045 people was conducted between March 8 and 12, 2023, and comes as other national polls show Trump leading the hypothetical 2024 pack by double digits and, in some cases, earning majority support.

According to the most recent Morning Consult poll, Trump has 52 percent support, while DeSantis has 28 percent.

However, DeSantis has yet to announce a presidential candidacy but has public support, as former Trump senior advisor Ken Cuccinelli announced last week the formation of his “Never Back Down PAC,” supporting DeSantis to run for president in 2024:

Today I’m launching Never Back Down PAC @Nvrbackdown24 to encourage @GovRonDeSantis to run for President in 2024 🇺🇸

The energy is real. Grassroots conservatives see that Governor DeSantis is a proven leader who can win in 2024. #NeverBackDownhttps://t.co/1VKNweKgq5 pic.twitter.com/OaKq1XJrKr

— Ken Cuccinelli (@KenCuccinelli) March 9, 2023

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