The Texas Young Republican Federation (TYRF) conducted a straw poll during February and March, and among potential 2016 Republican presidential candidates, the results show strongest support for Senator Rand Paul (R-Kentucky), followed by Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas), and Governor Scott Walker (R-Wisconsin).

The poll presented respondents with a list of eighteen potential presidential candidates and asked them to indicate each of the candidates they would like to see as the Republican nominee. Respondents were allowed to select multiple candidates they would support. The TYRF received 504 responses from Texas Republicans age 40 or under, of which 101 were active dues-paying TYRF members.

Among all respondents who were Texas Republicans age 40 or under, Paul came in first, with 50.6 percent saying they supported him. Cruz was second with 41.9 percent support, and Walker was third with 35.9 percent support. Other potential candidates who performed well include former Governor Rick Perry (R-Texas) with 26.4 percent, Ben Carson with 22.8 percent, Senator Marco Rubio (R-Florida) with 18.7 percent, former Governor Jeb Bush (R-Florida) with 18.5 percent, and Governor Bobby Jindal (R-Louisiana) at 18.1 percent.

Just looking at the respondents who were active dues-paying members of TYRF, Paul had an even stronger performance, with 68.3 percent of respondents saying they would support him for president. Walker came in second with 58.4 percent support, followed by Cruz with 33.7 percent support, and then Rubio and Bush, both with 25.7 percent. Perry received 24.8 percent and Jindal 23.8 percent.

Coming up next for TYRF is a joint Legislative Day with the College Republicans on April 23, 2015 at the Texas Capitol in Austin.

Follow Sarah Rumpf on Twitter @rumpfshaker.