Ron DeSantis top GOP 2024 choice in Texas if Donald Trump doesn’t run
Image via AP.

DeSantis Trump
The Governor outpolls two 'favorite son' candidates with or without Trump in play.

National polling has shown Gov. Ron DeSantis as the 2024 Republican frontrunner if Donald Trump doesn’t run for President again, and a new state poll from Texas accords with that trend.

A survey of 678 likely voters in the Texas Republican Primary, conducted from March 29 – April 2, 2022 by CWS Research, showed DeSantis with 48% support in a field without the 45th President.

Florida’s Governor polled much better than two favorite son candidates: Sen. Ted Cruz was favored by just 19% of respondents, good for a distant second place. And Texas Gov. Greg Abbott was favored by just 10% of respondents, putting him in fourth place behind former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley, a former South Carolina Governor who had 13% support.

In the polling of a Trump-inclusive field, the former President drew 46% support, well ahead of DeSantis, whose 20% was good for second place. Haley drew 10% in that scenario, with Cruz getting 8% support and Abbott just 6%.

Discussion of DeSantis’ presidential prospects has cooled in recent weeks, especially in the wake of former President Trump dominating a presidential straw poll at the Conservative Political Action Conference earlier this year.

The question still comes up, however, and the Governor keeps saying he’s focused on his re-election bid.

“I’ve never been to Iowa in my life. I’ve never been to New Hampshire, I may have been there in my twenties. I’m just doing my job,” DeSantis said on The Guy Benson Show.

Yet despite not committing to anything that looks like a 2024 campaign, DeSantis stopped short of giving Trump an endorsement should Trump run for a third time, continuing a trend of less-than-committal comments.

“Who knows? We’ll see how the dust settles,” DeSantis said.

The lack of endorsements is a two-way street, meanwhile.

Trump, a kingmaker in DeSantis’ run for Governor four years prior, has not endorsed the Governor’s re-election, even as he has endorsed the re-election campaigns of Attorney General Ashley Moody and CFO Jimmy Patronis. Trump has also endorsed Senate President Wilton Simpson for Agriculture Commissioner.

A.G. Gancarski

A.G. Gancarski has written for FloridaPolitics.com since 2014. He is based in Northeast Florida. He can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter: @AGGancarski


16 comments

  • Tom

    April 4, 2022 at 4:20 pm

    DeSantis, America’s Governor is the runaway fav if Trump bows out. Not likely.

    If he were to challenge 45, it would be spirited but a tough road.

    What it does reflect is that this brilliant Governor, America’s Gov had the passion, ideas and conservative base following him.

    He has much to offer. Do for America what you have done for Florida!

    • Ocean Joe

      April 4, 2022 at 5:29 pm

      Tom, Trump may still have the hearts of the rabble, but the minds of the GOP have moved on and want somebody else to run. You guys don’t want to lose. Again. Still waiting for the kraken.
      Desantis is polarizing, with his ‘George Wallace standing in the schoolhouse doorway’ imitation constantly bellowing feigned belligerence about Biden or the wokesters, but he would still be a far more capable nominee…a Trump without the vulgarity, the make up, high heels and bone spurs. So get behind your man, quit riding the fence. He won’t get my vote but the sooner he’s gone the better off Florida will be.

      • Impeach Biden

        April 4, 2022 at 7:46 pm

        You miss Andrew Gillum don’t you. Let me just say we dodged a bullet not having that coke sniffing and male prostitute loving guy as our Governor.

        • Role reversal

          April 5, 2022 at 6:15 pm

          That’s very unkind not say that about Ron desantis

        • Hehehehe

          April 5, 2022 at 6:52 pm

          Didn’t ron only win by a hair and COVID wiped out twice those voters?

      • Tom

        April 4, 2022 at 10:14 pm

        Ocean Joe, please address me as legend. Seriously, I’m hopeful. for America’s Governor, but it will be very, very difficult to defeat 45 in a primary.

        IAmerica’s Governor has a great story to tell. Joe, Who are the alternatives? Govs Larry Hogan, John Sununu jr,, Sen Mitt Romney, Rep. Liz Cheney? Please RINOS. DeSantis can make it a race. High hurdle though. I’m sure you and Palmer will vote for him. Right? LOL.

        • The real winner

          April 5, 2022 at 6:16 pm

          What’s it like knowing covid got more of ron desantis voters to vote for him then he did?

          • Tom

            April 6, 2022 at 10:08 am

            Dumb ass, fake moniker strikes again.
            How many deaths are Fauci & Biden on the hook for? 1.2 million? With you and your ignorant Dums illogic. Grow up clown.

            How many did cuomo and whitmer stuff back into nursing homes after contacting Covid you boob.

            America’s Gov led on inoculated seniors. He saved lives with Monoclonals remedy and rightly refused and did not send send them back in like cuomo &whitmer.

            Cuomo made $5million off of book bout Covid residents dying. Pathetic. Dems have nothing to tout. Especially Manchurians like you.

            America’s Gov, conservative leader, GOP future. Bless him, First Lady Casey & his kids!

          • For sure

            April 6, 2022 at 12:47 pm

            “Grow up clown”

            The anti vac kid didn’t

          • Reminders

            April 7, 2022 at 2:30 pm

            Toms gets mad when you remind him his immune system is not

    • Zhombre

      April 5, 2022 at 5:11 pm

      Hearts of the rabble? What an arrogant jackass figure of speech. Would you cop such a dismissive attitude about any other voting demographic? Shallow Pond Joe you are.

      • Walpurgis

        April 7, 2022 at 5:16 pm

        A political party, in the United States of America , in thrall of a semiliterate liar. The founding fathers might have described these unfortunates as rabble.

        • Tom

          April 7, 2022 at 10:41 pm

          And we describe you as incoherent and ignorant. America’s Gov the best!

          • Walpurgis

            April 8, 2022 at 5:04 pm

            Weak response. Don’t bother next time.

      • Tom

        April 14, 2022 at 10:44 pm

        You dumb ass Manchurians, “for sure”and “reminders”, are clueless and substantive-less. None of you offer anything but fake monikers and incoherent babble.

        You have nothing of note, clueless state candidates, America’s Gov who humiliates you each day. Sleep walking President, incompetent V P. AOC, Pelosi. Human waste. You ball scratchers are a waste of time. Enjoy.

  • Tom

    April 14, 2022 at 8:30 pm

    LMAO, you are Fng stupid.
    Walpurgis, a dumb ass fake moniker for a dumb ass, 5% hater Manchurian. Go scratch “don’t looks”testicles. You don’t deserve anything but the lowest, weakest reply. You are insignificant.
    I am Legend! It’s in scripted!

Comments are closed.


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