Millionaires prefer DeSantis in Republican presidential number one, however make stronger for Trump grows

Presidential candidate and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks to a crowd in Gilbert, South Carolina, June 2, 2023.

Sean Rayford | Getty Photographs

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is the favourite Republican candidate amongst millionaires, even if their make stronger for former President Donald Trump is rising, in line with the CNBC Millionaire Survey.

Best 32% of millionaire Republicans now make stronger DeSantis because the GOP nominee, in line with the survey, which polls people with $1 million or extra in investible property. That marks a big drop from the 54% who sponsored DeSantis on the finish of 2022, in line with the surveys.

On the similar time, extra respondents are getting at the back of former President Donald Trump. He has the make stronger of 28% of Republican millionaires, narrowly trailing DeSantis. The proportion of Republican millionaires backing Trump jumped from 17% on the finish of 2022.

DeSantis fares higher amongst millionaire unbiased electorate than Trump does, as 20% prefer DeSantis and seven% again Trump.

But, millionaires be expecting Trump to win the GOP number one in 2024. When requested who they suspect would be the Republican presidential nominee, 49% mentioned Trump, in comparison to 28% who mentioned DeSantis.

Millionaires do not all the time appropriately expect elections, after all. They supported Hillary Clinton within the 2016 race prior to Trump beat her and sponsored Trump in 2019 surveys prior to President Joe Biden defeated him, in line with CNBC Millionaire Surveys.

Nonetheless, the huge drop in make stronger for DeSantis and rising enthusiasm for Trump may display moving winds a few of the donor magnificence. DeSantis’ fight with Disney and different insurance policies has already brought about a few of his largest billionaire backers, together with digital-trading billionaire Thomas Peterffy, to pause their giving.

In a head-to-head race between Biden and Trump, millionaires nonetheless prefer Biden by way of a slender margin. About 55% of millionaires would make stronger Biden in a 2020 rematch, whilst 45% would like Trump. In the meantime, 84% of Republican millionaires would vote for Trump in a Biden-Trump election.

With the election nonetheless greater than a yr away, different Republican applicants may achieve floor. Former Vice President Mike Pence has 10% of Republican millionaires’ make stronger, up somewhat from 8% in 2022. Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley is also the favourite amongst 10% of survey respondents, up from 6% in 2022.

At the Democratic aspect, 65% of Democratic millionaires mentioned they make stronger Biden. The Democratic runner-up is California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who has no longer introduced a run for president however will get 13% of make stronger. Vice President Kamala Harris will get 4% of Democratic millionaires’ make stronger, whilst Hillary Clinton will get 7%.

CNBC’s Millionaire Survey used to be carried out on-line in April. A complete of 764 respondents, with $1 million or extra of investable property, certified for the survey. Respondents needed to be the monetary decision-maker or proportion collectively in monetary decision-making throughout the family. The survey is carried out two times consistent with yr, within the spring and the autumn.