Poll: Trump would beat DeSantis in a Florida GOP primary, but DeSantis would do better against Biden


Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) would lose to former President Donald Trump in the state's 2024 GOP primary but would perform better than Trump in a general election matchup with President Biden, according a Suffolk University/USA TODAY network poll.
The poll found that, in a hypothetical 2024 primary matchup between the former president and the incumbent governor, Trump would beat DeSantis 47-40.
Despite the apparent gap, USA Today noted Wednesday that Trump's lead does fall within the poll's 7.4 percent margin of error, suggesting a "very close race."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
According to the poll, either GOP candidate would win Florida over Biden, but DeSantis would perform better.
Trump leads Biden 47-44 among Florida voters likely to vote in the 2022 gubernatorial election, while DeSantis is projected to defeat the incumbent president 52-44.
The error margin for the general election polling is only 4.4 percent, meaning Trump's lead is within the margin of error but DeSantis' is not.
The poll also predicted that Hillary Clinton would defeat Biden in Florida's Democratic primary, though her three-point margin of victory is significantly smaller than the Democratic primary polling's 7.4-point error margin.
Florida has become an increasingly red state in recent years. It's the only state in which Trump increased his margin of victory from 2016 to 2020, and last November the South Florida Sun Sentinel reported that, for the first time in state history, Florida has more registered Republicans than registered Democrats.
The poll surveyed 500 adults and was conducted via telephone between Jan. 26 and 29.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Grayson Quay was the weekend editor at TheWeek.com. His writing has also been published in National Review, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Modern Age, The American Conservative, The Spectator World, and other outlets. Grayson earned his M.A. from Georgetown University in 2019.
-
June 28 editorial cartoons
Cartoons Saturday's political cartoons include stupid wars, a critical media, and mask standards
-
Thai fish pie with crispy turmeric potatoes recipe
The Week Recommends Tasty twist on the Lancashire hot pot is given a golden glow
-
Palestine Action: protesters or terrorists?
Talking Point Damaging RAF equipment at Brize Norton blurs line between activism and sabotage, but proscription is a drastic step
-
One year after mass protests, why are Kenyans taking to the streets again?
today's big question More than 60 protesters died during demonstrations in 2024
-
Iran nukes program set back months, early intel suggests
Speed Read A Pentagon assessment says US bombing of Iranian nuclear sites only set the program back by months, not years. This contradicts President Donald Trump's claim.
-
Trump says Iran and Israel agreed to ceasefire
Speed Read This followed a night of Israeli airstrikes on Tehran and multiple waves of missiles fired by Iran
-
Trump gives himself 2 weeks for Iran decision
Speed Read Trump said he believes negotiations will occur in the near future
-
What would a US strike on Iran mean for the Middle East?
TODAY'S BIG QUESTION A precise attack could break Iran's nuclear programme – or pull the US and its allies into a drawn-out war even more damaging than Iraq or Afghanistan
-
US says Trump vetoed Israeli strike on Khamenei
Speed Read This comes as Israel and Iran pushed their conflict into its fourth day
-
After Israel's brazen Iran attack, what's next for the region and the world?
TODAY'S BIG QUESTION Following decades of saber-rattling, Israel's aerial assault on Iranian military targets has pushed the Middle East to the brink of all-out war
-
Israel strikes Iran, killing military and nuclear chiefs
Speed Read Israeli officials said the attack was a 'preemptive' strike on Iran's nuclear program