Poll: Ron DeSantis, Mike Pence statistically tied with independents planning to vote in GOP Primaries
Image via AP.

DeSantis pence
DeSantis is still a strong 2nd place with GOP registrants, however.

While Gov. Ron DeSantis is in second place in most polling of the Republican presidential race, it appears closed Primaries (such as Florida has) may suit him better than more open ones.

New polling from The Liberal Patriot, which was conducted between June 20 and June 29 by YouGov, shows the Governor well in front of any competition for the runner-up slot with Republicans, but on less secure footing with other groups that say they intend to vote in GOP Primaries.

Among the 947 Republicans polled, Donald Trump leads DeSantis, 55% to 26%. Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley and U.S. Sen. Tim Scott are tied at 4% each, with former Vice President Mike Pence and author Vivek Ramaswamy each at 3%.

But among the 198 independent voters who say they will vote in Republican Presidential Primaries, the results change. Trump is still well in front with 40% support. But  DeSantis and Pence are close for the second-place spot. With 11% and 10%, respectively, the numbers are well within the +/- 1.9-percentage-point margin of error for the whole sample.

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, Florida and six other states (including early voting Nevada) have closed Primaries. But many other states do not, with many of them (including early voting New Hampshire) allowing independent voters to participate in open Primaries. Others, like Iowa, are “partially open.”

If independent voters are a factor in certain states, especially given the likelihood of President Joe Biden not facing serious competition for the 2024 nomination, then that dilutes DeSantis’ relative strength inside his own party.

Surprisingly, 410 Democrats say they are voting in the GOP Presidential Primary, and five candidates are in low double-digits with that subgroup. Pence leads with 14%, Chris Christie takes 12%, Trump 11%, and DeSantis and Haley tie for 10% with the cohort saying it’s crossing party lines.

A.G. Gancarski

A.G. Gancarski has been the Northeast Florida correspondent for Florida Politics since 2014. He writes for the New York Post and National Review also, with previous work in the American Conservative and Washington Times and a 15+ year run as a columnist in Folio Weekly. He can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter: @AGGancarski


6 comments

  • Earl Pitts American

    July 11, 2023 at 3:15 pm

    Good afternoon DFBL’s,
    New polling from a group you’ve never heard of monikered “The Liberal Patriot”.
    And we are suposed to believe the “polling” results????
    My Big ‘Ole Butt.
    Thank you America,
    Earl Pitts American

  • PeterH

    July 11, 2023 at 4:45 pm

    Very similar to other national polling. DeSantis is holding out hoping Trump drops out because of his criminal activity. Georgia Grand Jury seated today! DeSantis is smiling.

    The problem for DeSantis is his Florida policies hanging around his neck. He can’t shake them off with a reset!

    Republicans are America’s biggest problem!
    Vote all Republicans out of office!

  • Cuckold Ron & Casey Cuckquean

    July 11, 2023 at 4:50 pm

    Polling fourth in his own living room.

    Cuckold.

    • Dont Say FLA

      July 12, 2023 at 7:42 am

      Arwa Mahdawi over at the Guardian had a funny story yesterday about Elon Musk cuckolding. In her story she tried to define a cuck. I believe she missed the point entirely, given the lack of a hint that she could tell what it meant but couldn’t write that in The Guardian. She did say it’s a favorite insult from white supremacists, which I did not know that. I can see that, but I didn’t know that.

  • My Take

    July 12, 2023 at 5:36 am

    It’s really “Roehm” DeSSantis*
    Pudgy pushy ugly hate-filled fascistic bully, a street-thug/redneck. Enjoys kicking around essentially defenseless minorities Enjoys strutting and blustering. Has eyes on becoming party leader.** Demeaner of women. A detestable creature.
    *Really should be DeSAntis here.
    **May not work out too well.

  • Dont Say FLA

    July 12, 2023 at 7:37 am

    It doesn’t really matter which one of these two becomes Trump’s pick for VP. It really, really does not matter. Or maybe, just maybe, Trump will pick Omarosa to boost the vote from “The Blacks” that love Trump so much lol

Comments are closed.


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