In the world of politics, the race for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination is already heating up. Recent polls conducted by the Monmouth University Polling Institute have shed light on the preferences of GOP-aligned and -leaning voters.
According to the polls, former President Donald Trump remains a popular choice among Republican voters. In fact, 48% of respondents named Trump as their preferred candidate for the 2024 nomination.[0] This comes as no surprise, as Trump has maintained a strong base of support within the party since his presidency.
Trump’s closest competitor in the polls is Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who received 15% of the vote.[1] DeSantis has gained popularity among Republican voters for his conservative policies and handling of the COVID-19 pandemic in Florida.
Other potential candidates, such as former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley and business entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, received much lower percentages of support. Haley garnered 7% of the vote, while Ramaswamy only received 4%.
Interestingly, the polls also revealed that nearly half of GOP voters believe it is important for the next president to be someone from outside the political establishment.[1] This preference for an outsider candidate could explain Trump’s continued popularity among Republican voters, as he is often seen as a political outsider.[0]
In addition to the preference for Trump as the nominee, the polls also asked respondents to choose their preferred candidate without any prompting of current candidates. In this open-ended question, 48% named Trump, 15% named DeSantis, and 18% named another person. This shows that Trump’s support remains strong even when voters are not presented with a list of candidates.
The polls also highlighted the popularity of Trump among supporters of the “MAGA” (Make America Great Again) movement. Among strong MAGA supporters, 74% named Trump as their favored pick for the GOP nomination, with DeSantis coming in a distant second at 11%.[1]
However, it is worth noting that support for Trump decreases among non-MAGA Republicans. Only 29% of non-MAGA voters backed Trump, while 12% chose DeSantis.[0] Another 30% of non-MAGA voters named another candidate, while 30% did not name any preferred nominee.[0]
Looking ahead to the 2024 general election, some Republican voters expressed concerns about the criminal indictments against Trump. Only 25% of respondents said they were concerned about the impact of these indictments on Trump’s candidacy against Democratic incumbent Joe Biden. This suggests that Trump’s base of support remains strong, regardless of legal challenges he may face.
Overall, the polls conducted by the Monmouth University Polling Institute provide valuable insights into the preferences of Republican voters for the 2024 presidential nomination. While Trump continues to be a popular choice, other candidates like DeSantis and Haley are also gaining support. As the race for the nomination unfolds, it will be interesting to see how these preferences evolve and ultimately shape the future of the Republican Party.
0. “Trump Stays Dominant in GOP Race | Monmouth University Polling Institute” Monmouth University, 26 Sep. 2023, https://www.monmouth.edu/polling-institute/reports/monmouthpoll_us_092623/
1. “Poll: Legal troubles aside, Trump is still favored among Republicans” ROI-NJ.com, 26 Sep. 2023, https://www.roi-nj.com/2023/09/26/politics/poll-legal-troubles-aside-trump-is-still-favored-among-republicans/
