Fox News on Sunday published the results of the first survey for the 2024 presidential election and found that former President Donald Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis are the top two choices for primary voters in the Republican nomination.
Trump topped the list at 43%, DeSantis followed with 28%, Nikki Haley and Mike Pence tied at 7%, while Greg Abbott and Liz Cheney tied at 2%. The six potential nominees were among a list of 15 choices.
The Fox survey comes a year before the primary, and a lot can still happen. For starters, only Trump and Haley have formally announced their bid for the nomination so far, and it seems DeSantis is just about to get started.
Over the weekend, 150 of DeSantis’ top donors and supporters gathered just a few miles from Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida. Some of them were longtime supporters of the former president, including Trump’s former White House acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney and Arkansas Senator Tom Cotton, both of whom walked away from Trump after the events of the 2020 election.
The right-leaning news outlet noted that Trump was especially popular among those without a college degree, while DeSantis was the favorite for those with a degree and among primary voters who believe President Joe Biden was legitimately elected.
The survey also reaffirmed that a majority of Democrats, this time 53%, do not want Biden to as their party’s nominee. Only 37% of Democratic primary voters said that they want Biden to run again, but 84% approve of the job he’s doing as president.
77% of all primary voters were in favor of requiring politicians over 75 to take mental competency tests, something that Haley suggested shortly after announcing her 2024 campaign. This rule, if followed, would apply to both Biden, 80, and Trump, 76.
Lastly, the survey showed small but significant growth in the number of primary voters in the Republican party who plan to participate in the 2024 primary or caucus in their state, 41% said they will participate versus 38% four years ago. Meanwhile, 40% of Democrats intend to participate, down 1% from 2019.
Information for this briefing was found via Fox News, Politico, and the sources and companies mentioned. The author has no securities or affiliations related to the organizations discussed. Not a recommendation to buy or sell. Always do additional research and consult a professional before purchasing a security. The author holds no licenses.
