California love? Golden State poll shows Ron DeSantis competitive with Donald Trump
Image via AP

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DeSantis is within 11 points of Trump in a hypothetical GOP Primary.

Could the Golden State be golden for a potential Ron DeSantis presidential run in 2024?

Given its status as a blue state, there’s not much likelihood DeSantis could win California’s electoral votes in a 2024 Presidential General Election. But new poll of California Republicans suggests that DeSantis could give former President Donald Trump a run in a very-much-still-hypothetical 2024 Republican Presidential Preference ballot.

The Cal Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies release describes a dynamic in California similar to many other states. While Trump leads en masse, DeSantis is the clear second choice for Trump voters, and the first choice for a sizable minority of Republicans even when Trump is on the ballot.

“When California Republicans are asked who they currently support for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, Trump leads with 38% of the preferences. However, Florida Gov. DeSantis is a close second with 27% of the vote, while former Vice President Mike Pence places a distant third at 7%,” the release notes.

“If Trump is removed from the list of possible Republican presidential candidates, DeSantis emerges as the overwhelming favorite, receiving 53% of the state’s GOP voter preferences,” the release continues.

No other candidate in a Trump-free field gets even 10%. Former Vice President Pence pulled 9%, five points above a host of hopefuls who apparently have no hope at all with California Republicans.

DeSantis has made key hires from California, including Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo and former Press Secretary Christina Pushaw, who has since moved over to the re-election campaign in a rapid response role.

He and California Gov. Gavin Newsom have played up a feud, meanwhile, a sort of cartoonish Red State vs Blue State dynamic that clearly has been to their mutual political benefit. The same Cal Berkeley survey that shows DeSantis surging against Trump shows Newsom atop a diffuse Presidential field on the Democratic side in 2024.

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


11 comments

  • Linwood Wright

    August 19, 2022 at 3:01 pm

    Ron DeSantis is a racist pig.

    • Impeach Biden

      August 19, 2022 at 3:04 pm

      Democrat talking point 101. Republicans are racist. Yawn

      • Bill

        August 21, 2022 at 3:51 pm

        It is tiring to hear it all the time but .. it’s worth reminding people that some of them are. It would be easy enough to disavow them but hey … they’ll vote for me right?

        “POLITICIANS AND local Jewish leaders are demanding Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis condemn a group of neo-Nazis who congregated outside a Tampa convention center over the weekend, passing out anti-Semitic propaganda and displaying swastikas alongside flags that read “DeSantis Country.””

  • Impeach Biden

    August 19, 2022 at 3:03 pm

    Vote RED for right wing police state
    Vote RED for religious law and purposely botched executions
    Vote RED for terrorist militias
    Vote RED for neo nazi ideology in schools
    Vote RED for grifting and lies

  • Impeach Biden

    August 19, 2022 at 3:05 pm

    Wow. Looky here. The Corsin / Offen comedy show has copied my sign in name.

  • Impeach Biden

    August 19, 2022 at 3:17 pm

    Come on FP really? Another scrub yet you allow the Corsin /Offen comedy show to continue its nonsense and now more garbage from Linwood Wright.

    • Impeach Biden

      August 19, 2022 at 3:44 pm

      I have reported you for posting under my screen name, playing games, making false claims, and other far right chicanery. Take it to Mike Lindell’s website buddy…

      • Impeach Biden

        August 19, 2022 at 3:46 pm

        I have no idea what you are talking about Corsin / Offen. It’s Friday and you are probably hitting the bong pretty hard. 😜

        • Impeach Biden

          August 19, 2022 at 4:40 pm

          Oh you know what I’m talking about. You’re posting under other people’s screen names like an azzhole 🍩

          • Impeach Biden

            August 19, 2022 at 6:57 pm

            Corsin / Offen it isn’t me but I think it’s hilarious. 😄

  • David In Shoreline

    August 20, 2022 at 4:37 pm

    Athlete. Scholar. Sailor. Veteran. Prosecutor. Representative. Governor. President. World Peace.

    DESANTIS 2024

Comments are closed.


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