Poll: Trump has strong 2024 majority among GOP voters, DeSantis would take top spot in his absence

Republican voters still overwhelmingly favor former President Trump in a hypothetical 2024 presidential election but would break strongly for Florida GOP Gov. Ron DeSantis should Trump decide not to run, new polling shows. 

The polling, conducted by the Trafalgar Group, in partnership with Convention of States Action, shows that among "likely Republican primary voters," 61% signaled an intent to vote for Trump.

Forty-nine percent declared they would "absolutely vote for Trump, and 7.8% said they would "consider" voting for him.

If Trump chooses not to run in 2024, likely Republican primary voters overall would opt for DeSantis.

The rising GOP star and former congressman would capture 34.9% of the GOP vote, with his next-closest GOP competitor Sen Ted Cruz.  Roughly 15% of those polled picked the Texas congressman and 2016 presidential candidate.

“Republican voters clearly support anti-establishment candidates and a Trump run in 2024," said Mark Meckler, president of Convention of States Action.

He says Trump and DeSantis "represent a return to constitutional principles, common sense leadership, and the courage to stand against Washington, D.C."

Among anti-Trump GOP voters, 36% would favor Utah Sen. Mitt Romney in 2024, with former U.N. ambassador and South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley coming in second at just under 7%.