The first independent governors race poll is out. Here's who is in the lead.

U.S. Sen. Mike Braun is leading the crowded pack of Republican candidates running for governor, according to the first independent poll released this election cycle.

The poll confirms what many insiders have long said: Braun is the clear frontrunner in a field with numerous credible candidates.

In the Emerson College Polling/The Hill poll of 526 likely Republican primary voters released Thursday, 33.6% of voters said they would support Braun in the primary election on May 7. Here's the percentage of those surveyed who said they would vote for the other candidates:

  • Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch: 7.2%

  • Fort Wayne businessman Eric Doden: 6.6%

  • Former Indiana Secretary of Commerce Brad Chambers: 5.2%

  • Former Attorney General Curtis Hill: 2.4%

  • Indianapolis mother Jamie Reitenour: 1.6%

The largest chunk of voters — 43% — are still undecided.

The poll was conducted between March 2-5 and has a credibility interval of plus or minus 4.2%.

More: Get to know the 2024 Indiana gubernatorial candidates with Q&A's

Because both Reitenour and Hill received less than 5% of voter support in the poll, they will not be invited to participate in Fox59/CBS4’s live debate on March 26.

The survey also asked voters about the presidential election. In a November general election matchup between Republican Donald Trump and Democrat President Joe Biden, 55% of voters said they would choose Trump and just under 34% of voters said they would vote for Biden. The rest were undecided.

You can register to vote in the May primary election at indianavoters.in.gov/. The deadline to do so is April 8.

Contact IndyStar government and politics editor Kaitlin Lange at [email protected] or follow her on X @Kaitlin_Lange.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Poll: Mike Braun is in the lead in race for governor