Conservatives Eye CPAC Straw Poll as DeSantis Gains Popularity

Published Feb. 23, 2022, 1:47 p.m. ET | Updated Jan. 3, 2023

February 23rd, 2022 Updated 1:42 P.M. ET

ORLANDO (FCV) – The Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) kicks off Thursday in Orlando at the Rosen Shingle Creek Resort. CPAC is the largest and most influential gathering of conservatives in the world with thousands of activists in attendance and millions of viewers. 

CPAC will host a number of influential speakers including President Donald J. Trump, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, Texas Senator Ted Cruz, renowned activist Candace Owens, and Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Florida’s Conservative Voice Brendon Leslie. 

Conservatives are keeping their eye out for the results of the traditional straw poll of CPAC attendees showing which conservative icons are the most popular among the energized base, with the likely top two being Trump and DeSantis.

Neither Trump nor DeSantis have said officially if they are running for president in 2024. DeSantis is running for reelection for governor this November and has not indicated he plans to run during the next general election cycle.

A recent straw poll conducted by CPAC to gauge who could be the 2024 GOP presidential nominee saw Donald Trump leading with 70% of the vote, with DeSantis coming in second with 21% of the vote. 

However, when Trump was not listed on the poll, DeSantis garnered an impressive 68% of the vote. This is a huge indication of how popular the Florida Governor has become in the conservative movement following his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

DeSantis is more widely popular in Florida over Democratic opponents Nikki Fried and Charlie Crist who poll considerably lower than him, according to RealClearPolitics.

In the polling average, DeSantis is leading Crist by 5.8 points and Fried by 10.3 points. He won 2018 in a razor thin margin against Andrew Gillum.

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