A recent poll conducted by the University of North Florida’s Public Opinion Research Lab reveals that Casey DeSantis, Florida’s first lady, could be a strong contender for the position of governor if her husband, Governor Ron DeSantis, steps down.
The poll, released Tuesday, highlights Casey DeSantis’ favorable rating at 30%, with 22% expressing an unfavorable opinion and 33% saying they were not familiar with her.
Public Sentiment Towards Other Republican Candidates
The survey also examined public opinions about other potential Republican candidates for governor. Here’s how they performed:
- Matt Gaetz: The former congressman had a 39% unfavorable rating, 18% favorable rating, and 33% of respondents were not familiar with him.
- Ashley Moody: U.S. Senator Moody was more favorable among those familiar with her, though 54% of respondents were unfamiliar with her altogether.
- Byron Donalds: Sixty-six percent said they hadn’t heard of the U.S. representative, but those who did know him viewed him favorably.
- Wilton Simpson: Florida’s Agriculture Commissioner had the least recognition, with 79% unfamiliar with his name, while those who knew him were evenly split between favorable and unfavorable opinions (4% each).
Michael Binder, a political science professor at UNF and the director of the Public Opinion Research Lab, noted, “Casey DeSantis likely benefits from her role as the first lady of Florida, but most of the other candidates suffer from a lack of public recognition.”
Interestingly, Casey DeSantis had also emerged as an early favorite in a similar poll conducted in late 2023, securing 22% support among potential Republican candidates at the time.
Ron DeSantis Responds to Speculation
Governor Ron DeSantis addressed speculation about his wife’s political future during a recent interview on Fox News. “While the suggestions are flattering, she is not actively seeking a political position. People have been encouraging her to run for a long time, but she has no plans to pursue it,” he clarified.
Voter Opinions on Current Leaders
The UNF survey also explored voters’ opinions on current leaders, with the following results:
- Donald Trump: The former president had a 47% favorable rating and 45% unfavorable rating. Only 1% said they were unfamiliar with him.
- Ron DeSantis: Florida’s governor received 48% favorable and 43% unfavorable ratings, with just 3% saying they hadn’t heard of him.
The poll surveyed 871 active registered voters in Florida between February 5 and February 14. The margin of error was +/- 3.7 percentage points.
Key Issues Highlighted by the Poll
In addition to gauging political opinions, the survey shed light on pressing issues Floridians are concerned about:
- Renaming the Gulf of Mexico: A majority (58%) opposed renaming the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America,” while 31% supported the idea.
- Recreational Marijuana: Sixty-seven percent of respondents supported legalizing recreational marijuana for adults, while 32% opposed it. Despite this support, Amendment 3, which aimed to legalize recreational marijuana in the 2024 general election, fell short of the 60% approval needed, receiving only 56% of the vote.
- Housing and Insurance Costs: Thirty-four percent of respondents identified housing and property insurance costs as the most significant issue in Florida, followed by the economy, jobs, and inflation (21%). Concerns about immigration and education were much lower, with only 9% citing these as top issues. Housing costs and insurance concerns have significantly risen in recent years, with only 2% of voters identifying housing as the most important issue in 2022.
- Abortion Laws: Fifty-four percent of respondents felt that Florida’s abortion laws should be less strict, while 10% believed they should be stricter. A third (33%) said the laws should remain as they are.
Public Takeaway
The UNF poll highlights growing support for Casey DeSantis as a potential political leader, alongside revealing voter concerns about key state issues like housing, marijuana legalization, and abortion laws.
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