Mason-Dixon poll shows Ron DeSantis with healthy lead over Democratic opponents
If he runs in 2024, will Ron DeSantis offer voters a solid choice?

DeSantis (Large)
The Republican Governor has a decent cushion with less than nine months till Election Day.

Gov. Ron DeSantis would likely win re-election with a majority of the vote, according to the latest poll of the 2022 gubernatorial race.

Polling has consistently shown DeSantis leading each of the three Democratic candidates seeking to unseat the Republican incumbent in November. On Tuesday, data released from Mason-Dixon reaffirmed DeSantis’ lead, showing him winning 51% or more against each candidate.

According to the poll, U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist would perform the best of the three Democratic candidates if the race were today, losing 51%-43%. DeSantis would also defeat Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried, 53%-42%, and Miami state Sen. Annette Taddeo, 53%-37%.

“When matched up against his current potential Democratic challengers, DeSantis receives the support of slightly over half of Florida’s voters, and his leads provide a decent cushion at this point in the race,” the report notes.

All three candidates fell at or outside the poll’s four percentage point margin of error, indicating that DeSantis’ lead is solid with less than nine months till Election Day.

“These leads all appear to be related to (DeSantis’) name recognition advantage, although Crist is almost comparably well known,” the report continues.

DeSantis is recognized by 97% of voters and has a positive favorability rating. About 92% of voters say they recognize Crist, a former Governor, but more view him unfavorably than favorably. Only 67% of voters identify Fried, and 43% recognize Taddeo.

Crist, elected Governor in 2006 as a Republican and attempted to retake the Governor’s Mansion in 2014 as a Democrat, is also the front-runner in the Democratic Primary.

In head-to-heads against DeSantis, Crist would be the best-performing Democrat with Black voters. He would win that electorate 84%-7%, compared to Fried’s 79%-12% and Taddeo’s 67%-12%. Crist would also be the strongest with independents but still loses 56%-33%.

While DeSantis would win the votes of 62% or 63% of men in all three head-to-heads, Fried would be the strongest of the three Democrats among male voters, winning 35% of that electorate.

The poll comes as DeSantis continues padding his massive fundraising advantage. Last month, he added another $7.7 million to his war chest and had $77.8 million banked on Feb. 1.

His January fundraising total is higher than the cycle-to-date numbers posted by any of his would-be challengers.

Of the three Democrats, Crist fares best in the money race. To date, he has raised about $3.5 million through his political committee and $2.9 million through his official campaign account.

Mason-Dixon interviewed 625 registered Florida voters by telephone from Feb. 7-10 for the poll. Those interviewed were randomly selected and included landline and cellphone numbers.

Renzo Downey

Renzo Downey covers state government for Florida Politics. After graduating from Northwestern University in 2019, Renzo began his reporting career in the Lone Star State, covering state government for the Austin American-Statesman. Shoot Renzo an email at [email protected] and follow him on Twitter @RenzoDowney.


13 comments

  • Tom

    February 15, 2022 at 7:14 am

    No surprise, Governor Ron is America’s Governor. Floridans know they have the freedom Governor. DeSantis stands for liberty, freedom and opportunity for all Floridians.

    Crist is a cam million, Nikki Fraud is just that,fraud. Taddeo is a lightweight. Joe Biden is at 39% approval in Florida and nationally. America’s Gov has a 92% favorability. This is a blow out election for Gov Ron.

    Cause of America’s Govs leadership, Americans know that Florida stands for freedom and opportunity. Gov Ron wins re-election and starts the March to the WH and saves America. Get ready!

    • Impeach Biden

      February 15, 2022 at 8:21 am

      This site and my newspaper, Sun-Sentinel is all in on discrediting DeSantis. It won’t work as he will easily by re-elected.

      • Impeach Biden

        February 15, 2022 at 8:22 am

        Wow. That one got by the People’s Press of Florida.. 🤣

  • Impeach Biden

    February 15, 2022 at 8:03 am

    Yes he is America’s Governor. I travel all around the country on business and have always received positive comments on DeSantis when people find out I’m from Florida. I tell them that I love him as well but that the much of the MSM including my newspaper, Sun-Sentinel, and even this web site are focused on destroying him. DeSantis will win re-election easily come November.

  • Impeach Biden

    February 15, 2022 at 8:13 am

    Of course DeSantis is America’s Governor. I travel all around the country and when people find out I’m from Florida many of them tell me how much they respect our fine Governor. I tell them that he is very popular here and around the country but the MSM and notably my local newspaper, The Sun-Sentinel and even this web site are focused on destroying him. DeSantis wins again in November.

  • Impeach Biden

    February 15, 2022 at 8:17 am

    Ah yes since I say this site is focused on discrediting DeSantis my comments get canceled. DeSantis will win again and the negativity of much of the Florida press will have little effect come November.

  • Phil Morton

    February 15, 2022 at 8:32 am

    So, margin of error 47/47 Crist/DeSantis. I can live with that 9 months out.

    • Tom

      February 15, 2022 at 8:42 am

      Phil Morton original Manchurian, you can also extrapolate to the high side of the margin, 57% Desantis to 43% Crist.

      Be clear Phil, not happening. All three Dems are a joke! With Biden’s 39% approval in Florida, and nationally it is fail safe for Desantis. America’s Gov is92% favorable Florida, 60% independents. Hispanics at 50%, Seniors plus 50%. Phil call J D, he will give u the bad news. Just saying.

  • Impeach Biden

    February 15, 2022 at 8:51 am

    Looks like I have been un-canceled. Free speech makes a comeback at floridapolitics.com

  • zhombre

    February 15, 2022 at 9:36 am

    I look forward to listening to the lamentations of Florida Democrats when DeSantis wins.

  • Angela M. Cox

    February 15, 2022 at 9:42 am

    I absolutely LOVE you DESATIS! I live in Florida and have absolutely appreciated everything you have been doing to fight against this absurd Democratic Anti-American, criminal loving, terrorists helping just stupid “woke” Party!! They have done nothing but destroy Americans and this Country with every move they have made in this entire year!! I look forward to continuing to see you thrive. Best wishes to your wife and her fight!!

  • Doctor Laura

    February 15, 2022 at 8:00 pm

    Deathsantis of course will win . Many People in Florida sadly are dumb , anti science and don’t care about education or anything but keeping their guns and their freedumbs . Most kindergarten kids in Florida can’t even spell their name . This state is fucking dumb

    • Jerry

      February 15, 2022 at 10:05 pm

      Anti-Science? You mean the fact that all the blue state governors are now dropping their mandates…doing exactly what DeSantis has been doing all along? Is that anti-science too?
      Those states with mask and vax mandates all have the same COVID statistics as Florida that never put those mandates in place. The science is clear….mandates don’t work! Even a study by Johns Hopkins University found lockdowns lowered the number of deaths by only 0.2% and caused significant economic, political, and mental health damage. That’s Johns Hopkins University that says that, which is a very respected source.

      So what science did you want to follow? Lock down the state? Force everyone in their homes? For how long? The rest of our lives since we will never eliminate this virus? Force a needle into everyone’s arm? Why? The vax doesn’t stop the spread. If I get the vax, I can still catch and spread the virus, right? So what’s the point of a mandate?

Comments are closed.


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