KEY POINTS

  • Gov. Ron DeSantis came at a distant second in the straw poll
  • CPAC attendees were asked to answer the 20-question survey through an app
  • The results of the straw poll came after Trump gave his keynote address

Former President Donald Trump was a runaway winner as the Republican presidential bet in the 2024 elections, according to a new poll.

Trump on Sunday won an informal straw poll at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Dallas, securing 70% of all ballots cast. Previously, the former president only captured 55% support in a separate poll conducted at CPAC Orlando in February.

"I want to personally thank each and every one of you for your incredible support," Trump said during a keynote address at the CPAC event in Texas, according to Fox News.

Gov. Ron DeSantis, R-Fla., who Trump had previously named as a possible running mate, came in second in the poll, getting 21% of support. In the February CPAC straw poll, the Florida governor had earned 7% of the ballots in the survey where the former president’s name was included.

Attendees of the Texas CPAC event were also asked to vote on a second 2024 ballot question, without Trump on the hypothetical ballot. DeSantis topped the list with 68% of support on that question. The Florida governor was followed by former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who secured 5%, Donald Trump Jr. and Sen Ted Cruz, R-Texas, at 4%, and Gov. Kristi Noem, R-S.D., at 3%. No other candidates topped 2%.

The CPAC event organizers asked its 1,525 attendees to anonymously answer a 20-question survey through an app. The poll covered several topics, including critical race theory, cancel culture and the border.

The poll also asked attendees whether they approved of Trump’s actions while in the White House, of which 88% said they strongly approved while 10% said they somewhat approved.

The results of the CPAC straw poll were released after Trump delivered his keynote address where he accused big tech companies of influencing the 2020 election through censorship and slammed the November election as “a disgrace to our nation.”

"We are truly being scorned and disrespected all over the world. Never forget that the radical left is not the majority in this country. We are the majority and it's not even close,” he said, according to CNN.

Former US president Donald Trump reportedly told his chief of staff that 'Hitler did a lot of good things,' according to an upcoming book
Former US president Donald Trump reportedly told his chief of staff that 'Hitler did a lot of good things,' according to an upcoming book GETTY IMAGES / Eva Marie Uzcategui