In a recent poll conducted by The New York Times/Siena College, it has been revealed that former President Donald Trump continues to hold a significant lead over his Republican rivals in the race for the 2024 presidential nomination. The survey found that Trump garnered 54% support among likely GOP primary voters nationwide, while Florida Governor Ron DeSantis trailed behind at 17%. No other Republican candidate received more than 3% support in the poll.

The results of the poll indicate that Trump's popularity among Republicans remains strong, despite mounting legal problems. The former president's support cuts across various demographic groups, regions, and factions of the party. He leads DeSantis by a wide margin among voters aged 65 and older, as well as among white voters without a college degree. Even among respondents who identified as independents or very conservative, Trump outperformed DeSantis by significant margins.

While DeSantis has positioned himself as the candidate fighting against "woke ideology," the poll suggests that party members still overwhelmingly prefer Trump. Only 24% of respondents said they would be more likely to support a candidate focused on defeating "radical woke ideology," compared to 61% who preferred a candidate focused on law and order. Even among those who prioritize combating “woke” issues, a majority still favored Trump over DeSantis.

Despite DeSantis's efforts to present himself as a more electable alternative to Trump, the poll shows that Republicans view Trump as the stronger and more capable leader. A majority of respondents (58%) believed that Trump had a better chance of defeating President Biden in the 2024 election, while only 28% said the same of DeSantis. Additionally, 69% of respondents considered Trump to be a "strong leader," compared to just 22% who thought the same of DeSantis.

The poll also revealed that Trump has a loyal and intense base of support within the Republican Party. Forty-three percent of Republicans hold a "very favorable" opinion of Trump, and this group overwhelmingly supports him in a one-on-one matchup with DeSantis (92% to 7%). In contrast, DeSantis only edges out Trump among the smaller share of primary voters (25%) who view him very favorably, with a narrow 49% to 48% lead.

The results of the poll highlight the challenges that DeSantis and other Republican contenders face in trying to topple Trump's dominance within the party. Despite concerns about his legal troubles, including a criminal indictment, the poll shows that a majority of Republican primary voters do not believe that Trump's actions threatened American democracy or that he committed serious federal crimes. This unwavering support for Trump suggests that he remains the frontrunner in the Republican primary race.

The poll was conducted from July 23-27, 2023, among 1,329 registered voters nationwide, including 818 registered Republican voters. The margin of error among all registered voters was plus or minus 3.7 percentage points, and among registered GOP voters, it was plus or minus 4.0 percentage points. The findings align closely with the latest RealClearPolitics polling average, which shows Trump with 54.0% support nationwide, compared to DeSantis's 18.3%. As the 2024 primary season approaches, these poll results serve as a reminder of Trump's strong position within the Republican Party and the challenges that lie ahead for his competitors.