While former President Donald Trump’s support in the Hawkeye State reportedly dipped below 50% amid public tensions between himself and Gov. Kim Reynolds (R-IA), who enjoys high popularity among the state’s Republicans, Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) posted higher numbers in a poll of likely Iowa caucus-goers than nationally.
DeSantis received 20% of the vote in a recent New York Times/Siena College survey of Iowa Republicans who are expected to participate in the caucuses.
With 44% of respondents stating they would support him, Trump continued to be the front-runner.
Although the former president continues to lead in the Hawkeye State, his support there was lower than that of Republicans elsewhere.
Trump received 54% of the vote among Republicans nationwide in the New York Times/Siena College survey, which was released earlier this week, while DeSantis received 17%.
Trump’s support among probable Iowa caucus-goers is 10 points lower than it is nationally. This discrepancy highlights the fact that he is no longer supported by the majority of Republicans in Iowa, instead having a plurality over his rivals.
This comes after the previous month, when the former president made public a rumored quarrel he allegedly had with Reynolds.
He chastised the governor for pledging to maintain his impartiality during the state’s caucus election season.
He also claimed responsibility for her election to the position of governor on a number of times. State Senator Jeff Reichman withdrew his support for him after his public attack and opted to favor DeSantis.
Since they are the first in the country, the Republican presidential caucuses in Iowa are crucial in determining the nominees. They will take place on January 15, 2024, which is less than six months away.
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