Voters prefer Robinson over Stein, DeSantis over Biden and Trump in 2024 matchups | Eastern NC Now

    Publisher's Note: This post appears here courtesy of the Carolina Journal. The author of this post is Zach Rounceville.

    Recent survey data from the N.C. Faith and Freedom Coalition and N.C. Values Coalition shows that registered N.C. voters prefer Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis over President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump in the 2024 general election. Results also showed N.C. Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson leading current N.C. Attorney General Josh Stein in a potential matchup for governor in 2024.

    The survey, conducted by The Differentiators, a political consulting firm based in Raleigh, polled 500 likely general election voters from Jan. 9 to Jan. 12. The 500-person survey was composed of a third Republicans, a third Democrats, and a third unaffiliated voters and had a margin of error +/- 4.5 percent. It also revealed favorability percentages among the likely candidates for president and N.C governor.

    The results also showed that when asked, upwards of 95% of respondents answered "Very Likely" or "Likely Voting" on the question of whether they would vote in the 2024 general election and in each of the respective Democrat and Republican party primaries.

    Carolina Journal spoke with Jason Williams, executive director of the N.C. Faith and Freedom Coalition, who feels the results of the poll were a good representation of how N.C. voters feel about important issues facing the electorate in North Carolina this election cycle.

    "On the polling, Jim Blaine and Ray Martin [who run The Differentiators] are respected within the General Assembly, so we wanted to make sure that whatever poll we ran would be respected and accepted among the members of the General Assembly. We knew that we could rely on whatever data they came back with," Williams said.

    In an emailed statement to C.J., Laura Macklem, who serves as press and political director for the N.C. Values Coalition, said she was happy to partner with N.C. Faith and Freedom on the survey. The NC Values Coalition also published a press release detailing the survey results.

    "We enjoyed collaborating with the NC Faith & Freedom Coalition, an organization which shares our values," said Macklem.

    Tensions surrounding the presidential and gubernatorial elections in 2024 have run high since former President Donald Trump announced his third run for the White House shortly after last November's elections. Speculation over primary candidates has been plentiful, with Trump's former UN Ambassador and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley set to enter the primary field. Other potential candidates may include former Vice President Mike Pence, former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson, and former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. A presidential run for DeSantis at this point has been conjecture, as the current governor of the Sunshine State has not yet filed to run.

    On the race for governor, the results showed that Robinson narrowly leads 42.4% over Stein's 41.6% in the event Robinson runs for governor. The race figures to be a close one, with other polling sources viewing the contest as one to watch in 2024.

    "Absolutely," Williams said, when asked whether the results bode well for Republicans overall. "I think Republicans will continue to do what they've done in the past here in North Carolina and lead by example and promote a good business climate. We'll enact legislation that defends life and protects the health of women; that's why they were elected. I think that will bode well for them in 2024."