Political Shockwave: DeSantis Overtakes Trump in Hypothetical California Faceoff

A new poll by the Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies has revealed that California’s vast Republican electorate favors Florida Governor Ron DeSantis over former President Donald Trump in a hypothetical presidential matchup. The poll suggests a shift in conservative preferences ahead of the contested Republican presidential primary and highlights DeSantis as the Republican candidate most likely to draw voters from Trump. Additionally, the poll contains discouraging news for Vice President Kamala Harris as California voters remain lukewarm on her presidential prospects. In a head-to-head presidential matchup, California Republicans would choose DeSantis over Trump by a significant margin of 17 points, while in a Republican field including former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley and other contenders, DeSantis would still have an advantage over Trump. Furthermore, DeSantis has a higher favorability rating among Republicans than the former president.

California’s 5.2 million registered Republican voters could play a crucial role in the Republican presidential primary next March. DeSantis is expected to visit California next week for a sold-out event at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, followed by a fundraiser for the Republican Party of Orange County. Governor Gavin Newsom has been relentlessly attacking DeSantis, using the Florida governor as a foil for California progressivism, which underlines DeSantis’ position at the center of national Republican politics.

On the other hand, Harris could face challenges if President Biden chooses not to seek another term. The poll found that a majority of California voters are unenthusiastic about the idea of Harris running for president in 2024 should Biden decide not to run again. Although the vice president shows more strength among Democratic voters, who are enthusiastic about a possible Harris campaign, those headwinds echo Harris’s disappointing 2020 campaign, during which she was unable to consolidate support in her home state and dropped out before California voted.