Trump leads decisively in Virginia GOP primary field: poll

Former President Donald Trump is well-positioned to claim Virginia over his political rivals in the fight for the Republican Party nomination in 2024, a recent poll indicates.

In a Roanoke College survey, Trump stood 11 points ahead of closest rival Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, with 39% support to 28% respectively. No other candidate scored double digits support, though Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin took third place with 6%.

Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley took 5% while 4% were unsure. To date, only Trump, Haley, and tech mogul Vivek Ramaswamy have declared their candidacies on the Republican side. Ramaswamy did not feature in the survey.

The poll further indicates that voters largely see the contest as a Trump vs DeSantis showdown, with plurality of respondents opting for either candidate as their second choice. Youngkin, however placed first in that category, earning 25% support.

Formerly a Republican bastion, Virginia went blue in 2008 and has voted for a Democrat for president in each cycle since. Youngkin's surprise win in 2021, however, has reignited Republican hopes to claim the state in a nationwide contest.

The Roanoke College poll is one of several showing Trump pulling ahead of his presidential rivals in the GOP in recent weeks.

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on Twitter.