Trump vs. DeSantis: Which Republican Is More Popular in Florida?

Former President Donald Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis are both scheduled to hold rallies in Florida on Sunday, though the two Republican leaders—who are both potential 2024 rivals—will not be making appearances at each others’ events.

Recent polling has shown Florida Republicans split on which of the two they’d want to be the GOP presidential nominee in 2024. A poll from Victory-Insights conducted between October 30 and November 1 found 50.4 percent of GOP voters saying they’d prefer Trump as the nominee over DeSantis, while 49.6 percent said they’d favor the Florida governor. The poll also found DeSantis leading his Democratic opponent, Charlie Crist, in this year’s midterm election, 54 to 41 percent. The survey had a margin of error of 4.8 percent.

A September poll from Suffolk University and USA TODAY, showed DeSantis with a larger lead over Trump in a hypothetical 2024 matchup. Forty-eight percent of Republicans said they’d back DeSantis, while about 40 percent said they’d support Trump. More than 11 percent of Florida Republicans said they were still undecided. The poll had a margin of error of 4.4 percent.

“Donald Trump trailing in a contest with another Republican is a sea change,” said David Paleologos, the director of the Suffolk University Political Research Center in a statement when the poll was released. “In the 2016 Florida GOP Primary, Trump easily defeated hometown favorite Senator Marco Rubio 46%-27%. At the moment, however, Florida Republicans would choose DeSantis, despite Trump being a Sunshine State resident.”

Above, former President Donald Trump is greeted by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis on October 16, 2020, in Fort Myers, Florida. Trump and DeSantis are both scheduled to hold rallies in Florida on Sunday, though the two Republican leaders—who are both potential 2024 rivals—will not be making appearances at each others’ events. Brendan Smialowski

The poll also found that DeSantis has a 53 percent approval rating among Floridians, and that about 52 percent of state residents had a generally favorable view of him. About 42 percent had an unfavorable view of the governor. By comparison, about 40 percent of Floridians had a favorable view of Trump, while 51 percent had an unfavorable view.

Newsweek has reached out to Trump and DeSantis’ press offices for comment.

The former president is slated to attend a rally in support of Florida GOP Senator Marco Rubio’s reelection campaign at the Miami-Dade County Fair and Exposition on Sunday. DeSantis will not be in attendance, and according to a report from Politico last month, wasn’t even initially informed about the event. Meanwhile, the governor is holding his own campaign rally on Sunday as part of his “Don’t Tread On Florida” tour.

“Trump likely feels betrayed by a candidate he thinks isn’t grateful enough for the 2018 support. DeSantis doesn’t feel a lifetime of indebtedness is warranted for a single endorsement. And, they both know each of them are their biggest threat to the GOP nomination,” Michael Binder, a professor of political science at the University of North Florida, told Newsweek last month.