While former President Donald Trump has long been considered the Republican Party's 2024 frontrunner, a new poll seems to cement that status.

According to Breitbart, the results of a recent survey showed Trump crushing his closest competitor with a 14-point advantage.  

Trump has gained support over the past several months

Carried out by Monmouth University among Republican voters between March and March 20, the poll found that 41% wished to see the former president as their party's nominee.

By contrast, only 27% backed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. While Fox News reported that DeSantis made a trip earlier this month to Iowa, the governor has yet to officially announce his entry into the race.

Monmouth noted that these latest figures represent a sizable shift from the results seen in earlier surveys. A similar poll from February had both Trump and DeSantis tied at 33% each while a December survey actually put DeSantis 13 points ahead.

However, the race becomes much closer when all other candidates are removed from consideration voters and must choose between Trump and DeSantis.

Pollster: MAGA movement "sticking by their standard-bearer"

In that scenario, Trump leads DeSantis by a single point. Meanwhile, surveys done in February and January showed DeSantis with a double digit advantage over the former president.

Monmouth Poll: 2024 GOP Primary*

• Trump — 41% (+8 from Feb)
• DeSantis — 27% (-6)
• Haley — 3%
• Pence — 1%
• Paul — 1%
• Cruz — 1%
• T. Scott — 1%

2-Way:
• Trump — 47% (+7)
• DeSantis — 46% (-7)

521 RV | Mar 16-20| *list was not readhttps://t.co/4ZAO5Gr5Ua

— InteractivePolls (@IAPolls2022) March 21, 2023

"The movement Trump created is sticking by their standard-bearer," said Patrick Murray, director of the independent Monmouth University Polling Institute.

"That’s enough for Trump to overcome weaker support among the less MAGA portion of the Republican electorate, at least for now," Murray explained.

Report: "Dissension" in DA's office over possible Trump indictment

Murray added that Trump appears to enjoy "pretty stable" support. The pollster went on to predict that if more candidates were to enter the race then it would likely "spread out the anti-Trump vote."

Monmouth noted that its poll was taken before it emerged that Trump may face a criminal indictment in New York City.

Fox News reported that although a grand jury was expected to hear evidence on Wednesday regarding alleged hush money paid by Trump in 2016 to adult film actress Stormy Daniels, the hearing was canceled amid "major dissension" in Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's office.

"We can’t confirm or comment on grand jury matters," a spokesperson for Bragg's office was quoted as telling the network.