Republican and Independent voters in Texas overwhelmingly favor former President Donald Trump over his challengers, including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.
A new poll conducted in late June by CWS Research and the Defend Texas Liberty PAC shows that Trump is polling at more than 50% among the two categories of voters in the Lone Star State. Meanwhile, DeSantis is trailing more than 30 points behind, polling at 19%.
In May, CWS Research polled support for Trump at 47% and DeSantis at 23%.
Despite the significant gap between the two, DeSantis appears to be Trump’s only viable challenger in Texas, as the next highest polling candidate, former Vice President Mike Pence, is at only 5% in the latest survey.
Other candidates vying for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination include former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC), former Rep. Will Hurd (R-TX), businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum — none of which cracked 5% in the poll. However, 10% of voters are still undecided.
CWS Research also asked respondents who they would vote for if the Republican primary “were held today” and the only candidates were Trump and DeSantis.
The scenario boosted DeSantis’ share of support, with 32% of respondents saying they would vote for the Florida governor. However, 53% still said they would vote for Trump.
A senior advisor to Dallas Young Republicans claimed in an email to The Dallas Express that a key reason why DeSantis is falling behind Trump in Texas is a matter of authenticity.
“Ron DeSantis is unable to take a position that hasn’t been vetted by his pollsters, consultants, or strategists, all of which come from Bush world,” Roger Shafer said. “His continued scripted events with his wife are cringey and [turn] many away.”
“Authenticity drives primary voters; showing up in jeans, or wearing other people’s culture as your costume only gets him establishment GOP votes,” Shafer continued. “Placating to voters is insulting, but since his advisors haven’t talked to an actual voter in two decades, it’s lost on them. The man of easy wins seems to stumble on every issue that matters.”
Still, DeSantis continues to promote policies on issues of particular importance to Texas — border security and immigration policy, for instance. As previously reported by The Dallas Express, DeSantis recently released a four-part border security plan entitled “No Excuses.”
