In the latest round of Republican primary polling, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis appears to be facing a challenging position, sliding to third place according to Cygnal’s August survey. The poll, conducted in early August, indicates that former President Donald Trump continues to hold a strong lead with the backing of 53.3 percent of likely voters in the GOP primary. However, an unexpected contender, anti-woke businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, has surged ahead to claim second place with 11.4 percent support, surpassing DeSantis who holds 10.4 percent, pushing the Florida governor into third place.
Former Vice President Mike Pence, who has been the subject of recent contention with Trump, comes in fourth with 6.6 percent support, while South Carolina Senator Tim Scott trails with 3.2 percent support. Other candidates struggle to break the three percent mark, with former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley at 2.8 percent and former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie at 2.1 percent.
The survey reveals that Trump commands a lead across all demographics, including swing voters, securing 31 percent support in the crowded field. Ramaswamy follows with 18 percent, placing DeSantis in third position again with 10 percent backing.
The survey was conducted from August 1-3, 2023, with a sample of 2,000 likely general election voters and a margin of error of ± 2.16 percent.
DeSantis’s decline in the polls coincides with recent campaign changes, including staff layoffs and a shift in campaign management. Despite these efforts, DeSantis’s progress in both state and national surveys has been limited.
A recent New Hampshire poll echoed this trend, showing Trump’s lead at 34 points while DeSantis dropped to single digits, sharing second place at nine percent support alongside Christie.
In response to DeSantis’s struggles, Trump has been outspoken, attributing DeSantis’s challenges to a lack of personality. Trump anticipated DeSantis’s drop in the ranks and suggested that his second-place position would be short-lived.