Former President Donald Trump holds a 7-point lead over Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in Iowa, a key early primary state, according to a new poll released Monday.
Trump tops DeSantis 36.9% to 29.6% among likely GOP primary voters in the competitive state even after the Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg indicted the former president.
According to a Cygnal and Iowans For Tax Relief poll, both of the frontrunners won against President Joe Biden among likely general election voters, with Trump ahead by 6 points and DeSantis leading by 10.3 points.
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Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley trailed the two with 4.6% of the vote, followed by South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem and former Vice President Mike Pence at 2.4% and 2.3%, respectively. Conservative businessman Vivek Ramaswamy garnered 2.2%, and former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott both received 1.1%.
More likely general election voters found Trump to be more favorable than DeSantis at 42.7% to 39.7%; however, 8% had not heard of the Florida governor and 10.6% didn’t have an opinion of him. Trump and DeSantis received 55% and 41.6% unfavorability ratings, respectively.
Trump was also up 15 points against DeSantis in Iowa among registered Republican voters among a larger GOP primary field, according to a J.L. Partners poll from March 25 – April 4. The former president also led the governor 47% to 39% in a head-to-head matchup.
DeSantis Expected To Run, But A Law Is Standing In His Way
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is widely expected to run for president in 2024, but a state law bars him from doing so if he doesn’t resign as governor first.
The state’s legislative session began Tuesday, and a long list of bills are already on the docket for the next two months, except for a bill that would target the Resign-to-Run law, Florida’s Speaker of the House’s office confirmed.
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The law would require DeSantis to resign from office before “qualifying” for a presidential run, but the legislature must clarify what the qualifications are.
Many believe DeSantis will make a presidential decision once this legislative session concludes in May, so it would make sense for the legislature to address this bill before then.
The Resign-to-Run law was altered in 2007 when then-Gov. Charlie Crist sought the vice presidency, but was changed back in 2018 by then-Gov. Rick Scott, once again restricting Florida office-holders from seeking federal positions without resigning first.
On Monday, Trump’s MAGA PAC said, “At present, Florida has a “Resign to Run” law that requires statewide officeholders to leave their positions if they’re running for Federal office. In remarks first shared with the Associated Press, Nova Southeastern University Law School Professor Bob Jarvis said, “There is no ambiguity, no debate, no dispute. Under current law, DeSantis cannot run for president before first resigning as a governor.”
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The PAC added, “DeSantis allies in the Florida legislature are considering a change to state law to help the Governor, but DeSantis has already begun his month-long, taxpayer-funded campaign schedule before legislation could be passed.”
In March, The Free Press asked the Governor’s office about claims that taxpayers are footing DeSantis’ travel expenses.
Deputy Press Secretary Jeremy Redfern replied, “The state does not coordinate or plan political travel, nor does the taxpayer fund political travel.”
Redfern added, “As for the trip to Israel, that is a trade mission through Enterprise Florida and, just like the last one, is not paid for at the taxpayer’s expense.”
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