By Mitch Perry, The Florida Phoenix
A new public opinion survey of likely Republican voters in Florida shows once again that Byron Donalds continues to benefit from the endorsement he received from Donald Trump in the race for governor this November.
The poll from the Public Opinion Research Lab at the University of North Florida finds that once GOP voters are informed that Donalds is backed by Trump, he gains 47% support to just 12% for First Lady Casey DeSantis, who is not an announced candidate for the seat.
Investment firm CEO James Fishback is third with 5%, Lt. Gov. Jay Collins is at 2%, and former Florida Speaker of the House Paul Renner is at 1%.
Before voters are informed in the UNF poll that Donalds has already been endorsed by Trump, however, his lead over Mrs. DeSantis is just four points, 28%-24%.
When Florida GOP voters were asked whose endorsement would matter more to them, 42% chose Gov. Ron DeSantis, while 32% said Trump.
DeSantis has not endorsed any candidate to succeed him as governor so far.
“That DeSantis’s endorsement edges out Trump’s in terms of importance may be less about voters’ preference for DeSantis’s opinion and more about their curiosity about it, given Trump’s opinion is already public knowledge,” said Dr. Sean Freeder, the poll’s director and a professor of political science.
“This would explain Donalds’ clean advantage over Casey DeSantis once the Trump endorsement is known, as her husband’s endorsement is surely assumed, should she run.”
Trump’s endorsement of Donalds a year ago has effectively frozen the race in Donalds’ favor.
Eight years ago, Trump’s endorsement of DeSantis, then a not-so-well known congressman from Northeast Florida, catapulted him to a victory over Adam Putnam in the Republican primary for governor. DeSantis narrowly defeated Democrat Andrew Gillum in the general election.
The poll consisted of 657 likely Republican voters conducted between Feb. 16-20. The margin of error is +/- 4.38 points.
Florida GOP Voters Value DeSantis Endorsement Over Trump’s added by Staff on
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I like Donalds.
We are still 9? months out, but I see yall are already figuring out how to get rid of the black guy. Trump be damned, right? LOL. This is gonna be comical to watch yall bend yourselves in pretzels to justify why you can’t pull the lever for Donalds. Just tell the truth, guys. You don’t wanna see another black guy in charge. Do yall think he’s a DEI hire?? Is he actually qualified? He must be super connected, huh? He has a white wife…does that help? He might like dogs. I’m pretty sure opposition research is complete and the guy is a boy scout compared to other yahoos in office. Hmmmm….how can we discredit this guy in such a short time? I know! Didn’t he go to FAMU??? Like Gilliam? Steve! Here’s your chance. If you can connect Donalds to AndyG maybe your people can breathe a bit. Get to it.
I love Trump, but Byron Donalds is not what Florida needs. Donalds will turn Florida blue. Republican voters do not want Donalds for Governor.
@ DeepStatePropagandist: Oh, my bad. I thought you were commenting about fraud, waste, and theft of taxpayer funds. I should have recognized that it was just your typical ideological and disconnected pablum and irrational hatred to anyone who has an opposing viewpoint. I didn’t realize that you think there is a substantive distinction between 1st and 2nd degree murder.
“But judge, my client only murdered people who live in that other neighborhood.”
My apologies. Carry on… you poor dear.
@Edward Lyle –
“Nancy, Ilhan, Iana, Stacey, Alexandria, Chuck… that you guys?”
To my knowledge,none of those people have had investigations opened into them in regard to mis-directing charity funds to a PAC. I would be happy to be corrected on that point. (?)
@ DeepStatePropagandist: Nancy, Ilhan, Iana, Stacey, Alexandria, Chuck… that you guys?
lmao… you poor dear
“no one knows her other than being Ron’s wife.”
That, and for being a crook who took charity money to use in a PAC. We know her for that also.
It is to late for Casey DeSantis to even think about running, no one knows her other than being Ron’s wife.