An August poll by the conservative-leaning Civitas Institute found that Gov. Roy Cooper is the top choice of a majority of likely North Carolina voters in the 2020 gubernatorial election.

Against Lt. Gov. Dan Forest, a Republican who officially announced his campaign Saturday, Cooper was favored by 48% of voters, compared to Forest’s 36%, if the election were held today. Fifteen percent of voters said they were undecided.

State Rep. Holly Grange, R-20, fell short in the same matchup with 30%, compared to Cooper’s 48% and 22% undecided. Grange entered the gubernatorial race on July 18.

Civitas asked the likely voters for their preference between Cooper and former Republican Gov. Pat McCrory, who lost to the current Democratic governor in 2016. Cooper led with 47% to McCrory’s 38%.

“Gov. Cooper has enjoyed positive favorability and job approval over the past few months, so these results are not a big surprise,” said Civitas Institute President Donald Bryson. “Expect these numbers to tighten as campaigning begins later this year in earnest. However, three key details to watch will be Cooper’s strong leads among moderates, unaffiliated voters and his slim lead in the Charlotte media market.”

Results from the Civitas poll showed a wider gap between Cooper and Forest than a poll by the liberal-leaning Public Policy Polling. While two months old at this point, the Public Policy poll in June showed Cooper leading Forest 45% to 41%. That poll was conducted before Grange announced her candidacy.

Civitas also asked likely voters about their support for socialism. Respondents were asked: “Based on what you know, would you favor or oppose the United States’ political and economic system becoming more socialist?” Sixty-four percent of respondents said they oppose more socialism and 21% said they were in favor of more socialism.

Civitas asked the same question in February and found 60% opposition and 23% favorability.

The poll also defined socialism, after which respondents were more opposed it it.

The poll stated, “As you may know, socialism is a political and economic system in which the government assumes control of much of private industry, including things like health care, education, banking, manufacturing, and energy production. Socialist countries aim to provide their citizens with basic services at the cost of significantly higher tax rates. Now that you have heard this information, would you favor or oppose the United States’ political and economic system becoming more socialist?”

Seventy-two percent were against more socialism and 19% were for more socialism.

Former Vice President Joe Biden and U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris are among the Democratic candidates for president and are considered more moderate than other leading candidates.

“In the cross tabs of the presidential match-ups, a plurality of Biden, Harris and undecided voters oppose socialism,” Bryson said. “This data suggests that Biden and Harris’ socialist-leaning rivals could fail to replicate a broader coalition of voters if chosen as the nominee.”

The poll also found that 53% of responders say the country is on the wrong track and 46% say North Carolina is on the wrong track. The poll found that respondents disagreed about whether they approve or disapprove of President Donald Trump, with 49% approving and 48% disapproving.

The survey was conducted Aug. 1-4. The sample size was 500 likely voters in North Carolina.