The National Public Affairs poll released Wednesday shows that 41 percent of the 809 respondents back Trump for the GOP nomination. He sits 23 points above his nearest competitor, Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL), at 18 percent, who finds a pair of opponents within striking distance.
For reference, a May survey from the pollster showed Trump at 38 percent and DeSantis at 23 percent, marking an eight-point swing Trump’s way in a month’s time. Moreover, that poll was conducted before DeSantis’s campaign launch.
Former Gov. Nikki Haley (R-SC), who was the Palmetto State’s executive from 2011-2017, holds third place with twelve percent support, followed by fellow South Carolinian Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) at ten percent. Another five percent back former Gov. Chris Christie (R-NJ), while former Vice President Mike Pence, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, and former Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R-AR) tie at two percent. Gov. Doug Burgum (R-ND) takes one percent, while six percent are undecided.
Notably, the poll does not include declared candidates radio host Larry Elder, Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, or businessman Perry Johnson, and it was conducted prior to former Rep. Will Hurd’s (R-TX) entrance into the field earlier this week.