Donald Trump’s Year in Review: Maintained First Place for Nine Solid Months

Presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump launched his presidential campaign roughly one year ago and has steadily climbed to the top of the polls, rising to the top of the GOP pack within two months after formally launching his presidential campaign.

On June 16, 2015 — the day Trump launched his campaign — former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush led the GOP pack with 10.8 percent in the Real Clear Politics poll average. Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker was directly behind him in second with 10.6 percent and Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) rounded out third place at 10 percent.

One month later on July 16, 2015, Trump shot to second place behind Bush. Bush at that time had roughly 15.5 percent while Trump ranked around 15 percent. Walker slipped to third place with nine percent.

Two months after Trump officially launched his campaign, he took first place and more than doubled his lead over Bush. On August 16, 2015, Trump ranked in first place with 22.3 percent according to the Real Clear Politics average. Bush held second place with 10.3 percent and Walker hung on to third place with 8.5 percent.

Three months after his launch, Trump hit 30 percent in the polls by September 16, 2015 while facing a large group of GOP presidential candidates. Trump maintained first place with 30.5 percent, while Dr. Ben Carson shot to second place with 20 percent. Bush slipped to third with 7.5 percent.

Trump continued to lead the pack for the next eight months, according to the Real Clear Politics polling average:

• October 16, 2015 – Trump’s poll average was 23.8 percent.
• November 16, 2015 – Trump’s poll average was neck and neck with Carson, but still in first at 24.3 percent.
• December 16, 2015 – Trump’s poll average was 33 percent, more than double second place which was Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) at that time who held a 16. 1 percent polling average.
• January 16, 2016 – Trump’s polling average was 34.5 percent, while Cruz maintained second place at 19 percent.
• February 16, 2016 – Trump held first place at 31.7 percent, but Rubio replaced Cruz in second place with 20.3 percent. Cruz held third at 19.7 percent.
• March 16, 2016 – The day after the Super Tuesday primary where Trump took big wins in several states, Trump held first place in the national poll average with 32 percent.
• April 16, 2016 – Trump broke 40 percent in April.

By May 5, 2016, Trump held 46.5 percent in the poll average just a few days after Cruz suspended his campaign on May 3, 2016 after the Indiana primary and Ohio Gov. John Kasich suspended his campaign on May 4, 2016.