Nov 16, 2023 - Politics & Policy

Republicans happier with 2024 candidates than Democrats: poll

Satisfaction with the current field of candidates for the 2024 presidential election
Data: Quinnipiac. Chart: Will Chase/Axios

A majority of registered voters would like to see other candidates enter the presidential race, according to a new Quinnipiac University poll.

Why it matters: With the 2024 election shaping up to be a rematch of the 2020 contest between President Biden and former President Trump, the findings underscore how hungry voters are for alternatives to choose from.

By the numbers: Overall, 52% of respondents said they would like to see other candidates enter the race.

  • An astounding 72% of independents said they wanted other candidates to consider, as did 58% of Democrats.
  • Of Republican respondents, 29% said they are dissatisfied with their current crop of candidates.

State of play: A field of 15 candidates across the political spectrum have active 2024 campaigns.

  • With Biden struggling in a number of polls, some Democratic governors and senators have begun boosting their national profiles in case he unexpectedly drops out.
  • Trump, meanwhile, remains well ahead of his GOP rivals in the party's primary.
  • Former U.N. ambassador Nikki Haley has surged to second place in the GOP race in some polls, but lags far behind the former president.
  • Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, once seen as the biggest threat to Trump securing the nomination, has struggled to gain ground in the primary.

Methodology: The survey of 1,574 registered voters was conducted Nov. 9-13 and has a margin of error of 2.5%.

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