Poll: Ron DeSantis at 14% support in Texas GOP Presidential Primary

DeSantis texas (Medium)
Nearly 3 in 5 Texas Republicans intend to vote for Trump.

Yet another poll shows Ron DeSantis more than 40 points behind Donald Trump in Texas.

The University of Houston and Texas Southern University poll of 524 registered Texas GOP Primary voters, reported by Axios, shows the former President with 58% support and DeSantis at 14%. Nikki Haley is in third place with 6%.

The poll, conducted between Oct. 6 and 18, shows DeSantis doing somewhat better in a two-way race that appears unlikely. If Trump and DeSantis were the only two options, the Florida Governor would have 25% support against 60% for the former President.

The 44-point gap is actually more narrow than that suggested by other recent polling of Lone Star State leanings.

The latest University of Texas/Texas Politics Project Poll had Trump ahead by 49 points, 62% to 13% for DeSantis.

DeSantis is poorly positioned based on these results to get the 162 delegates Texas will dole out March 5, 2024. The Race to the White House polling average shows a 62% to 13% lead for Trump.

DeSantis brought his campaign to Texas this summer, calling attention yet again to undocumented immigrants entering at the Mexican border and promising to leave them “stone cold dead.”

He vowed to use “deadly force” via the U.S. military when asked during a news conference after his campaign event, saying that if some “cartel operatives” got “dropped,” it would change their attitude.

The Governor also visited in September to discuss energy policy proposals. He promised that if elected President, he could bring gasoline back to $2 a gallon.

Describing “waning” American influence, with Russia “exporting record amounts of energy” and China building reserves, the Governor promised “to use our energy dominance to deny our enemies revenue.”

“Instead of liberating the American oil industry to increase production, the (Joe) Biden administration has throttled the industry,” DeSantis lamented, saying America has the power to “lower gas prices” and “lower costs” for Americans while working to “restore” the country’s Strategic Reserve.

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

  • Tom

    November 2, 2023 at 10:48 am

    He should just give up already. So long as trump is neither dead or in jail, he’s just wasting his money and our time.

    • Nebraska Granny

      November 2, 2023 at 11:08 am

      DeSantis give up?Nah! As far as Trump is concerned, pride goeth before a fall.

      • Rick Whitaker

        November 5, 2023 at 12:28 pm

        “goeth”, there’s that biblical crap again. we all know you christian haters are going to vote gop no matter what. how hypocritical.

    • My Take

      November 2, 2023 at 11:56 am

      He’s counting on one of those.

      • MH/Duuuval

        November 5, 2023 at 11:33 am

        You mean: with a smirk and a shrug?

  • MH/Duuuval

    November 4, 2023 at 10:18 pm

    Greg Abbott owes one to Dee for spending Florida money to send Florida law enforcement to the border.

Comments are closed.


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