Ron DeSantis comes within less than 4% of Trump in polls on Michigan’s key battleground: Florida governor keeps rising as GOP race for 2024 intensifies
- Another Republican primary in 2024 shows Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ growing influence within the GOP, catching up to or surpassing Donald Trump
- Trump won Michigan against Hillary Clinton in 2016 but lost to Joe Biden
- The majority of “classic Republicans” and college-educated voters there say DeSantis
- The Republican governor is ahead of Trump in the primary elections in Florida, Wisconsin and New Hampshire – where the first primary race is held
- Trump has repeatedly dismissed seeing DeSantis as a threat, while DeSantis has not ruled out challenging the ex-president in 2024
- None of the Republican leaders have officially entered the race
Chatter about a possible 2024 bid by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is gaining momentum among voters in the battleground state of Michigan, according to a Tuesday poll — with more than four in 10 Republicans saying they would prefer him donald trump.
The victory in Michigan was crucial for the President Joe Biden‘s 2020 win after the state narrowly passed Trump Hillary Clinton in 2016.
And it seems the former President’s influence is over GOP Voters there continue to slide, the new poll from WDIV and Detroit News suggests.
Of a choice between DeSantis and Trump in the 2024 Republican primary, 45.2 percent said they would support the commander in chief.
DeSantis is less than four points behind with a support share of 41.6 percent. Just over 12 percent said they were undecided.
Florida’s Republican leader has built a national brand for himself as one of the most vocal opponents of the Biden administration.
He has clashed with the president on multiple fronts, from refusing to implement COVID-19 measures to Florida’s Parent Rights in Education Act — which Democrats and other critics have dubbed the “Don’t Say Gay” law.
But although DeSantis won the governorship in 2018 with Trump’s endorsement, he hasn’t ruled out challenging the ex-president for the White House.
In his home state of Florida, a July 15 poll predicts DeSantis will be vocal in blasting Trump at the ballot box.
This survey of Michigan GOP voters shows Ron DeSantis’ national profile is increasing in key battleground states
Just 33 percent of Republican Sunshine State voters said they would support Trump, while 51 percent support DeSantis, the government said Insights into Victory Poll released on Monday. The rest were undecided.
A straw poll conducted in Wisconsin in May also shows DeSantis has a 38 percent share of a broader pool of GOP candidates. Trump followed close behind with 32 percent, and Nikki Haley landed in a distant third place.
In New Hampshire, where traditionally the first presidential primary is held, DeSantis outperforms Trump by a modest two points and secures 39 percent support among voters there. The survey was conducted in June by the University of New Hampshire Survey Center.
But in Tuesday’s Michigan poll, Trump appears to have the support of voters to run again — at least for now.
Sixty-four percent of Republicans surveyed said they support Trump’s attempt to seek re-election for a third time — 48 percent “strongly believe” in him, while 16 percent said they “somewhat” support him.
The biggest gap between Trump and DeSantis voters was their level of education. A majority of people with college degrees are in favor of the latter, while more people with higher education are in favor of the former.
Donald Trump’s endorsement helped DeSantis win the Florida governorship, but the popular Republican leader has since made his name for himself as one of the Biden administration’s biggest critics
Trump still leads among “Trump Republicans,” too, but still only gets about seven out of 10 of his previously reliable constituencies. People who consider themselves “classic” GOP voters support DeSantis by more than 50 percent.
During his first campaign, Trump won Michigan by just over a third of the Republican primary vote.
Conservative Texas Senator Ted Cruz was nearly level with former Ohio Gov. John Kasich at about 24 percent each — meaning a narrower candidate field could make it harder for Trump to secure a majority this time.
But in a recent interview, Trump dismissed the notion that he views DeSantis as any sort of rival — and hinted he may soon officially declare his own campaign.
“I don’t feel that,” he told New York Magazine. Speaking of the Florida governor’s last race, he added, “I backed Ron, he was at 3 and as soon as I backed him he went first place, he wasn’t going to win.”
“I’m very confident that if I decide to run, I’ll win,” he said of a potential 2024 offer.
Trump is reportedly considering announcing his decision before the midterm elections – an unprecedented early start but one he seems hopes will scare off potential challengers.
