Poll: Donald Trump Holds Lead over Crowded GOP Primary Field

Former President Donald Trump leads a potentially crowded Republican primary field by six points, according to a national poll.

The Quinnipiac University poll released Thursday shows that a 42 percent plurality of Republicans and Republican-leaning voters back Trump in a field that featured many candidates. Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) remains Trump’s closest potential competitor, receiving 36 percent of the response, followed by former Gov. Nikki Haley (R-SC), who launched her candidacy for president on Wednesday, at five percent.

Four percent of the 592 Republicans and leaners included in the sample support former Vice President Mike Pence, and another four percent back former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY) both garner two percent of support, while one percent would vote for Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC), who is reportedly “taking steps to run for president.”