“He’s more popular than ever,” said Jim McLaughlin, a Trump pollster who conducted the straw poll.
McLaughlin announced the results from the CPAC Texas main stage about two hours before Trump’s scheduled appearance. Among those in attendance who voted, 69 percent said they preferred Trump, and 24 percent said they would prefer Florida Republican Ron DeSantis.
When asked who they would prefer if Trump did not run for president, 65% of respondents said they preferred DeSantis, while 8% said they would support Donald Trump Jr.
The straw poll is not a scientific survey, as the panel is limited to CPAC participants and is not representative of the broader GOP electorate.
The results echo previous CPAC straw polls since Trump left office that showed the former president with a wide lead among conservative activists and DeSantis as the favorite alternative.
In February, Trump won a solid poll at CPAC in Orlando, Florida, with 59% of the vote. DeSantis is in second place in that poll with 28% of the vote, and former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is in third place with 2% of the vote.
In a July 2021 CPAC poll, Trump led the GOP field with the support of 70% of convention attendees, compared to 21% who chose DeSantis last year.
In an interview with New York Magazine last month, Trump said he was still deciding when — not if — he should announce a campaign in 2024. DeSantis is also considered a contender for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination.
CNN’s Sarah Murray and Steve Contorno contributed to this report.
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