The Republican Party of Texas released a new poll Monday that asked voters their preferred 2024 candidate.
Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida leads former President Donald Trump by 11 points with a sample of likely Texas GOP primary voters, according to the poll conducted with the help of CWS Research. If the upcoming GOP primary was held today, 43% of respondents would vote for DeSantis compared to 32% going for Trump, with 13% saying they are undecided. Other candidates in the survey are former Vice President Mike Pence, GOP Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and former GOP Gov. Nikki Haley of South Carolina. Pence received 5% of the survey and the rest of the options each obtained 1% of the vote.
If Trump declined to participate in the primary, two thirds of voters would vote for DeSantis with 16% left undecided and single-digit vote totals for alternative candidates. When asked about party affiliation, 78% labeled themselves Republicans and 22% considered themselves Independents.
New: A poll released by the @TexasGOP from @CWS_Research shows Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis up 11 points on Donald Trump in a Texas 2024 GOP primary matchup.
The same pollster had Trump +17 over DeSantis in October.
Full poll: https://t.co/NtoBjWXJPu pic.twitter.com/cBoq8nJgDi
— Brad Johnson (@bradj_TX) November 14, 2022
The poll was conducted by the Texas GOP together with CWS Research, which surveyed voters from Nov. 12-13. A demographically proportionate sample of 1,099 likely Texas GOP primary voters were randomly selected to participate in the poll. Respondents were surveyed through interactive voice calls and SMS messages directing them to an online survey. The margin of error for the poll is 2.96% with a confidence level of 95%. It is the first statewide poll taken by the Texas GOP since the midterm elections. (RELATED: Voters Prefer DeSantis Over Trump For 2024: POLL)
Speculation has grown about the possibility of DeSantis challenging Trump for the GOP nomination ahead of the 2024 presidential election. DeSantis was reelected by almost 20 points in Florida, once considered a crucial swing state. Trump recently attacked DeSantis for being “average” and nicknamed him “DeSanctimonious” at a rally before the midterms.
