Ron DeSantis firmly in third place in new national poll of GOP presidential primary

DeSantis AP
The Governor has single-digit support overall, 28% support in two-way matchup with Trump.

A new survey from Donald Trump’s preferred pollster suggests the Florida Governor is locked into third place for now in the GOP presidential race.

The McLaughlin poll conducted from Aug. 15 through Aug. 23 shows Ron DeSantis with 9% support, behind both Trump (51%) and Vivek Ramaswamy (13%).

DeSantis lost 4 points from the previous poll, while Ramaswamy gained 5, resulting in them swapping positions.

All other candidates are below 5%, so DeSantis is not in danger of losing his third-place position soon.

McLaughlin polled a hypothetical two-way matchup also, and the results were unfavorable for DeSantis. Trump was the choice of 72% of respondents, with 50% of all Republicans definitely committed to him. DeSantis was the choice of 28% of respondents, with 10% of all Republicans definitely committed to him.

DeSantis performed best in the West region, where 60% of respondents preferred Trump and 40% wanted the Governor instead.

Trump takes 81% of those who voted for him in 2020. However, 86% of Joe Biden voters and 87% of those who voted for neither major party candidate prefer DeSantis.

Three-fourths of Republican registrants say they would vote for Trump, as do 3/5 of independent voters who plan to participate in GOP nominating contests next year.

DeSantis does best with White voters, with 29% support. Among Black voters, however, he has just 19%. And he has 22% backing among the Hispanic Republicans polled.

In a sign his co-branding with his wife Casey and his three children is working, married people are almost twice as likely to support DeSantis as not. While just 20% of singletons pick DeSantis over Trump, a full 37% of people in wedded bliss prefer Ron over the Don.

The polling also shows a gender gap. While 33% of male Republican Primary voters prefer DeSantis, only 22% of women back the Governor.

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


8 comments

  • Michael K

    August 24, 2023 at 1:40 pm

    Not to worry – he will continue to sink under the weight of his angry, dystopian vision of America, and his abuse of power against the people of Florida just to generate a cheap campaign talking point.

    America sees right through him.

  • tom palmer

    August 24, 2023 at 5:24 pm

    We’re number three ! We’re number three! We;re number three!

  • eva

    August 24, 2023 at 5:50 pm

    smartcareershome.blogspot.com

  • eva

    August 24, 2023 at 5:51 pm

    According to my younger brother’s acquaintance, I’ve were given bs02 my first test general of $19,000, quite cool.
    .
    .
    Just open the link……………………………..

  • My Take

    August 24, 2023 at 11:51 pm

    Third place.
    Third worldish.
    “Baby Doc” DeSScamtis.

  • PeterH

    August 25, 2023 at 1:55 am

    I’m surprised he’s still in the campaign for the Republican presidential nomination! Such a vapid loser.

  • Kenneth L Gallaher

    August 25, 2023 at 12:13 pm

    The GOP has no viable 2024 POTUS candidate.

Comments are closed.


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