We are two years out from the 2024 Election–but the race has already begun. Last week, Trump fulfilled promises he made to his supporters to announce his candidacy for president. He is the first Republican to officially announce his race, triggering the primaries almost a year before they normally begin.
But Trump’s nomination for the Republican Party isn’t a shoo-in. He isn’t the incumbent, as he was in 2020. And much has changed since he was elected in 2016. Will the GOP back him, as they did two times before? Or are there enough conservatives eager for a change that someone else might steal the crown from Trump? A new poll out of Florida is gauging the red state’s interest in the 2024 race.
And the results are shocking.
A new poll surveying Florida residents has found that Florida Governor Ron DeSantis would trounce former President Donald Trump in a 2024 Republican Party presidential primary.
The poll, conducted late last week by Sachs Media, found that DeSantis beats Trump by a whopping 45 points, 66% to 21%.
The poll from Sachs Media, whose polls correctly showed DeSantis winning re-election by double digits, found that respondents “trust” DeSantis “more” than Trump to “be a good role model for young people,” 89% to 4%, “have a moral foundation for choices,” 81% to 12%, “unite voters around a common cause,” 76% to 19%, and “be respected by other world leaders,” 68% to 26%. [Source: Daily Wire]
2024 Florida Republican Primary Poll:
Ron DeSantis — 66% (+45)
Donald Trump — 21%@SachsMediaGrp | 600 LV | 11/11https://t.co/Bl1bAWFXz4 pic.twitter.com/MSZsHLvrIF— InteractivePolls (@IAPolls2022) November 18, 2022
Trump supporters might roll their eyes at this poll since it comes from DeSantis’ home state. But as some people have said, “As goes Florida, so goes America.” Most 2024 polls that have come out over the last two years showed Trump easily defeating DeSantis. However, this poll–which came out after the 2022 midterms–reveals DeSantis winning by over 45 points.
Why is this so important? Because Florida is a big Trump state. He won the state twice in 2016 and 2020. So, if these folks are breaking for DeSantis, then Trump is as good as lost. If he can’t win Florida, he doesn’t have much of a chance of winning other states in the GOP primaries.
Now, this is only one poll and there is over a year between now and the primary elections. Many things could happen. We don’t even know if DeSantis or anyone else will run against Trump. Trump announced his 2024 race this early, in the hopes of scaring off any competition. But the results of this year’s midterms have many thinking Trump is no longer the de facto leader of the GOP.
Many people, including some of Trump’s closest former allies, are calling for new leadership. They are signaling they want DeSantis to run for president and challenge Biden. The big issue is if Trump supporters–some of the country’s most radically loyal Americans–will be smart enough to back DeSantis, even if he beats Trump in the primaries.
Much is at stake in the upcoming election. Democrats cannot stand to win the White House and gain more ground in Congress. But Republicans will have to run flawless campaigns if they will win over independent voters to secure the election.
That means a united party–strongly backing whoever wins the nomination.
Will it be DeSantis? Will it be Trump? I guess we’ll find out.
Author: Max Davis