Ron DeSantis holds slight lead on Charlie Crist in progressive poll

Crist_Desantis side_by_side (10)
He's still winning but sits below 50% support from voters.

Fresh polling shows Gov. Ron DeSantis with only a 3-percentage-point lead over Democratic challenger Charlie Crist.

Liberal groups Progress Florida and Florida Watch published polling modeled on a Republican-leaning Midterm electorate and found DeSantis leading with 48% to Crist’s 45%. That closely matches findings for a generic ballot test showing 48% of voters feel inclined to vote Republican in the midterms and 45% intend to vote Democratic.

That puts the race within the poll’s 1.78% margin of error. Pollsters for the Florida Communications and Research Hub surveyed 3,017 Florida voters between Aug. 25 and 30. That means the poll was taken after Democrats elected Crist, a St. Petersburg Congressman, as the Democratic nominee for Governor.

That still gives the Republican Governor an edge, but leaves him short of a critical 50% level of support.

Crist’s campaign said the polling shows potential to upset the incumbent.

“This latest poll underscores everything we know to be true about this race – Ron DeSantis is beatable, and the time to stop him is now, ” said Austin Durrer, Crist campaign manager. “Charlie Crist is the candidate this moment calls for, someone who can unite Democrats, Independents, and moderate Republicans who don’t agree with the never-ending culture wars this governor wages day-in and day-out. Floridians are rejecting Ron’s radical anti-woman, anti-freedom agenda, and on November 8 they will make that clear.”

The left-leaning groups also tested messaging that could effectively be used by Democrats on the trail.

The strongest message may surround guns. About 69% of Floridians oppose allowing citizens to carry firearms without a license or training, a policy DeSantis has championed as “constitutional carry.” At least as described by pollsters, only 29% of respondents support such a policy.

Asked about the prospect of banning assault weapons in Florida — the location of some of the nation’s highest profile mass shootings in the last decade — about 57% of respondents favor a full ban, while 40% totally oppose it.

There’s also opposition to book banning. Asked whether voters support banning certain school library books, including those with sensitive topics like race, sex and sexuality, about 63% totally oppose such action by government. Only 33% offer total support.

And a 15-week abortion ban with no exceptions, like that signed by DeSantis, also proved unpopular, with 58% totally opposed. Only 37% listed themselves as supporters.

“Floridians strongly reject Ron DeSantis’ extreme agenda of banning books, banning abortions, and banning the safe use of firearms,” said Florida Watch Executive Director Josh Weierbach. “While Ron DeSantis focuses on his political ambitions for higher office, Charlie Crist has a clear case to make that he is the candidate who will tackle our housing affordability crisis, protect the right to abortion care and keep our communities safe in order to build a Florida for all.”

Jacob Ogles

Jacob Ogles has covered politics in Florida since 2000 for regional outlets including SRQ Magazine in Sarasota, The News-Press in Fort Myers and The Daily Commercial in Leesburg. His work has appeared nationally in The Advocate, Wired and other publications. Events like SRQ’s Where The Votes Are workshops made Ogles one of Southwest Florida’s most respected political analysts, and outlets like WWSB ABC 7 and WSRQ Sarasota have featured his insights. He can be reached at [email protected].


56 comments

  • Tom

    September 1, 2022 at 11:36 am

    Puny? Who says?

    How many Dumcrars can you jam down people’s throats.

    These are corrupt partisan push, push polls.
    Fake. America’s Gov leading between 10 to 12 pts.

    • Charlie Crist

      September 1, 2022 at 11:45 am

      Fake America’s governor? 😂

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      • Love him

        September 3, 2022 at 3:30 am

        COVID: that’s my governor!
        Cancer: and that’s my wife!

      • Ron DeSantis

        September 3, 2022 at 3:57 am

        You Are Fake 100%

    • Joe Corsin

      September 1, 2022 at 12:10 pm

      Hey Tom, why are Floridians like you so fond of billionaires from New York???? What do they do for you accept degrade your already feeble neo confederate mind and sell you snake oil. Why you like carpet baggers??? 😂

      • Tom

        September 1, 2022 at 1:03 pm

        LMAO Joey.
        Did U take extra, extra dose of meds?

        As the legend, I’ll answer you,.
        Under any reasonable economic metric blue collar, middle class, and and working class advanced the economic ladder between, 2017 till spring 2020, Covid.

        The rising tide lifted all boats, people were prospering on lower end economic ladder. Take home pay was up 3,4 5% or more. Bonuses etc.
        the tax cuts helped middle class earners the most.

        Your constant belly aching is non factual. Florida has prospered with net migration, it’s received billions and the wealth transfer is significant.

        America is carpet baggers, legal ones until Biden allowed 4 million illegals in.

        As for Florida, under DeSantis, America’s Gov, all jobs and more have been recaptured. 2.7% unemployment, 7.8% wage growth. To be clear,
        Florida under America’s Governor stands the tallest in the USA. It is the beacon of freedom, faith, family and liberty for all people’s!

        You know not what you speak.
        Schooled by legend!
        Drop the mic.

      • Tom

        September 1, 2022 at 1:20 pm

        Oh Joey, leave it to the legend to school you.

        America is carpet bagged!
        Normally legal ones, unlike Biden and border, 4 million illegals.

        DeSantis and Florida stand tallest in USA as the economic beacon, of hope, faith, family, freedom, and liberty! Rising tide for all!

        Florida is the place to be with the light of freedom! Economic migration, billions reinvested, people’s across Midwest and east coast.

        Under any reasonable metric economic wage growth prospered from 2017 to 2020 spring, Covid.
        Middle class, blue collar, working class advanced, take home pay escalated. Tax cuts benefited middle class the most!

        Biden’s economy has been very negative, devastating to blue collar, working class, middle class, and beyond! Tacos for all.

        Facts are funny things, they hurt!
        Legend speaks, drop the mic!

        • Joe Corsin

          September 1, 2022 at 1:53 pm

          Legend? Legendary imbecile and narcissistic manure peddler. Need Far Cammack face sit to square you away 🍩

          • Tom

            September 1, 2022 at 2:10 pm

            Oh Joey, you skipped your hourly dose! Such a maniacal addict.
            Incest does destroy brain.

        • Hope

          September 1, 2022 at 3:02 pm

          @ Tom,

          Your words are so profound it bears repeating..

          “DeSantis and Florida stand tallest in USA as the economic beacon, of hope, faith, family, freedom, and liberty! Rising tide for all!”

          Florida is the place to be with the light of freedom! Economic migration, billions reinvested, people’s across Midwest and east coast.

          Under any reasonable metric economic wage growth prospered from 2017 to 2020 spring, Covid.
          Middle class, blue collar, working class advanced, take home pay escalated. Tax cuts benefited middle class the most!

          Biden’s economy has been very negative, devastating to blue collar, working class, middle class, and beyond! Tacos for all.”

          • Charlie Crist

            September 1, 2022 at 3:19 pm

            ^ Yeah buncha pie in the sky, magical right wing propaganda. All poo poo… shilling for the rich.

          • Tom

            September 1, 2022 at 3:47 pm

            Thanks Hope!
            That’s why I am the FP legend.
            The only one who has the left wing FP monitor try to critique, but fails.

            Corsin is clueless as you know.
            I welcome you on board.
            Impeach and I have dwelt with these jackals for sometime.

            When it comes to facts, the soros manchurians collapse under the high beams. Specially in light of the Biden dismal economic run.

            DeSantis has taken the in coming and shown Florida stands above the rest!
            Biden, Harris, Newsom and others fear him.

            Florida’s economy is spectacular. Ron needs to highlight even more.

            Rising tide for all!

          • Charlie Crist

            September 1, 2022 at 5:45 pm

            @Tom: Why must you always proclaim that you are a legend? Is this some reaction to the fact that you are a deadbeat loser?

        • ABN

          September 1, 2022 at 6:05 pm

          And the majority of crazy guys assaulting Congress on 1/6 are Floridians and are in jail.

          • Tom

            September 1, 2022 at 7:31 pm

            Ignant one.
            That had nothing to do with anything I shared.

            ABN, another fake moniker, clueless.

    • dan hendrickson

      September 5, 2022 at 1:35 pm

      who’s paying you to be a partisan, lapdog for rightwingers you don’t even agree with?

  • PeterH

    September 1, 2022 at 11:36 am

    Voters put to rest MAGA nutcase Sarah Palin last night in Alaska of all places!!

    If Americans want women to control their own bodies, qualified teachers to replace DeSantis’s culture wars in classrooms, intelligent teacher-student conversations concerning the social issues facing Americans in the 21st century, non-bullying discussion about classroom students who are different, common sense gun regulations, and a new honest approach on how best to address climate change……AMERICANS MUST VOTE ALL REPUBLICANS OUT OF OFFICE. REPUBLICANS ARE AMERICA’S PROBLEM.

    • Tom

      September 1, 2022 at 12:32 pm

      That voting process is corrupted!
      That’s the only way Dums win.
      FYI, that seat will flip in Nov. assured

      • Joe Corsin

        September 1, 2022 at 1:24 pm

        @Tom: Only seat that’s gonna flip is gonna be Fat Cammack face sit, gnarly face grind, horrible azz scrub🍩 Teach you a lesson about the GOP 💋

        • Hope

          September 1, 2022 at 2:08 pm

          @ Joe Corsin AKA Charlie Crist

          I don’t think even Charlie would condone your Fatal Attraction, identity theft, and misogyny. It just make the other side look better. What is your address so I can send you a thank you letter.

          • Charlie Crist

            September 1, 2022 at 3:21 pm

            @Hope: I’m attracted to Fat Cammack. You fail miserably again. Do yourself a favor and stick to mindless right wing propaganda… although technically this is not doing yourself a favor. Gonna send you to hell!!! 🔥

        • Tom

          September 1, 2022 at 2:13 pm

          Ignant one.

    • Terry

      September 1, 2022 at 5:18 pm

      You failed to disclose that she will only be in office until January of 2023. This was a special election to fill the term of a congressman that died recently. 538.com Nate Silver ABC news polling sight, gives the Republican that is running in November a 82% chance of winning the seat in November.

      • Tom

        September 1, 2022 at 6:40 pm

        I did much earlier terry.

      • Phil Morton

        September 2, 2022 at 5:18 am

        That 82% is predicated on Republicans choosing a non Trump endorsed candidate as their standard barrier. There’s been no sign of that happening so far except in Georgia. Same candidates in November and expecting a different result seems a stretch.

  • Ron Ogden

    September 1, 2022 at 11:46 am

    Push polling for public consumption. If the proggies admit DeSantis leads at this stage, they are basically saying the election is over with. Absentee ballots drop in six weeks.
    As they say in NYC, “fuggedaboudit Charlie.”

    • Elliott Offen

      September 1, 2022 at 12:07 pm

      NYC has a bad habit of sending the dregs of that city to drive up housing prices and corrupt public decency here in Florida. The biggest example of that is DONALD TRUMP!!!😂

      • Ron Ogden

        September 2, 2022 at 7:31 am

        This, coming from someone who borrowed the identity of a man (Elliott Offen) who made himself notorious running up and down Fifth Avenue in a bra and panties, is quite a statement.

        • Elliott Offen

          September 2, 2022 at 9:36 am

          At least I didn’t move to Florida like Donald Trump. You never get the point..ever.🤡

  • Hope

    September 1, 2022 at 12:39 pm

    Top Gun Best Governor in America Ron DeSantis!!

    I would say that the Charlie Crist platform is puny, but that would be a lie as he does not have one. Sorry, Charlie… you will be handed a loss for the fourth time in November.

    • Charlie Crist

      September 1, 2022 at 1:22 pm

      You don’t know if I’ll lose or not. Just spewing nonsense. When I get elected..I’m gonna deal with people like you. Bank on it..

      • Hope

        September 1, 2022 at 2:12 pm

        @ Charlie AKA Joe Corsin

        You will already be in prison for identity theft and stalking.

        • Charlie Crist

          September 1, 2022 at 3:23 pm

          Trump will be in prison for a laundry list of crimes. I’ll be released before he will 😆

        • Terry

          September 1, 2022 at 5:29 pm

          Hope, just like myself you have caught on to this guy that goes by 3-4 screen names. It’s so easy to see that Joe, Charlie Crist, plus others are the same person. I asked him yesterday, and he didn’t deny it. He really has.a crush on Cat Cammack, the Congresswoman from a district in North Florida. He keeps calling her fat, but I think he has a real thing for her.

          • Charlie Crist

            September 1, 2022 at 5:46 pm

            You are correct sir. I desire naked and greasy Fat Cammack face sit 🍩

          • Terry

            September 1, 2022 at 5:59 pm

            Hey, Joe, Charlie- how and when has she ever been naked in front of you? She doesn’t want to date you man, let it go!!!

  • tom palmer

    September 1, 2022 at 5:32 pm

    As I always point out., the only poll that counts will be Nov. 8. Nevertheless, it would be wonderful to effect regime change in Florida. Democrats and Independents need to vote.

  • ABN

    September 1, 2022 at 6:07 pm

    Voters put to rest MAGA nutcase Sarah Palin last night in Alaska of all places!!

    If Americans want women to control their own bodies, qualified teachers to replace DeSantis’s culture wars in classrooms, intelligent teacher-student conversations concerning the social issues facing Americans in the 21st century, non-bullying discussion about classroom students who are different, common sense gun regulations, and a new honest approach on how best to address climate change……AMERICANS MUST VOTE ALL REPUBLICANS OUT OF OFFICE. REPUBLICANS ARE AMERICA’S PROBLEM

    • Terry

      September 1, 2022 at 6:23 pm

      Looks like we have another screen name for PeterH. Florida Politics is becoming a joke.

      • Charlie Crist

        September 1, 2022 at 9:46 pm

        Need Ashli Moody carpet much, Fat Cammack bung hole scrub, Marjorie Taylor Greene golden shower 🚿… teach you a good lesson about the GOP.

  • Leonard

    September 2, 2022 at 6:35 am

    In the last 10 years virtually every statewide poll in Florida has been wrong because they oversample Ds and poll “registered voters” as opposed to “likely registered voters”. Florida is a 1% state…in most cases the election for Governor will come down to 1 to 2%. A landslide is 5%—which is about how big Crist won in 2006 over Jim Davis. IF this poll were accurate (and it isn’t) a 3% win would be a very healthy win for DeSantis. In reality he is probably up 5-7%.

    • Tom

      September 2, 2022 at 10:32 am

      DeSantis is up between 8 to 10 pts.
      Slaughter in horizon.

  • Max

    September 2, 2022 at 12:34 pm

    “Liberal groups Progress Florida and Florida Watch published polling”

    How can anyone take these type of polls serious? You should be embarrassed posting this nonsense.

  • martucci

    September 2, 2022 at 1:50 pm

    A Progressive poll? More like the snowflake poll. I would bet that everyone polled by the “progressives” are hiding in their safe spaces-inside mommy and daddy’s house.

  • David in Shoreline

    September 2, 2022 at 3:31 pm

    America’s Governor might be beatable. But certainly not by the clown Charlie Crist.

    Love ya Governor DeSantis! Keep fighting for Florida!

  • Who is the Lt Gov?

    September 2, 2022 at 3:59 pm

    Can you MAGA JR Clowns even name the lieutenant governor without looking it up? Know anything about her? You should because that’s who you are actually electing. Ron is gonna cut bait a few weeks/months after (if) his second term starts to begin his presidential run. Right after calling a special session and signing off on a total abortion bans and any other extremist crap the sycophants in the legislature here can shovel him in that short time. Top Dum gonna be MIA and Florida will be in his rear view as he continues to court the big money right wingers elsewhere. What a joke.

    • Tom

      September 2, 2022 at 8:57 pm

      Moron, what a ass.
      Ofcourse Jeanette Nunez, outstanding. Former St Rep.

  • Tom

    September 2, 2022 at 8:59 pm

    Yes.
    Jeannette Nunez, former St Rep

    • Lol Tom

      September 3, 2022 at 7:15 am

      Google served you well. Congratulations.

      • Tom

        September 3, 2022 at 7:50 am

        Moron, You are ignorant, if you had any clue who I am, you would know I know that. As if I care what you think.

        Nunez is no comparison to the rodent Matz. Who is a sympathizer to a sex abuser. You and all are delirious if you think she’s not wearing it the next 60 days.

        Furthermore, Matz will wear her relationship with NEA Presd. Weingarten. The awful school report that came out destroys Matz even more. She fought Florida schools reopening. DeSantis saved the kids period!

        Gov Ron and Lt Nunez have Matz and pathetic chameleon right where we need them. Nunez is well known in Miami Cuban, Hispanic community.

        You are dealing with a legend you dumb ass. Go pick up the garbage at Gov. newsoms in laws house in Naples! They bought it Run from him and enjoy Florida freedom. LMAO.

  • Frank Lombardi

    September 3, 2022 at 5:58 pm

    Democrats always put out fake numbers and they have no morality this allows them to master the con.

  • Frank

    September 3, 2022 at 8:26 pm

    Crist will lose by more than Mondale. Book it. If not, then elections are rigged….but not by just Democrats…. By both Democrats and Republicans to deter a third party, which both agree would spell the death of them.

  • Frank

    September 3, 2022 at 8:39 pm

    Tommy Boy, why don’t you give us a clue who you are, then? Are you Satan (Republicans) or Satan’s dumbass son played by Adam Sandler (Democrat)….Little Nicky,, I believe was his name. Neither is a compliment…I feel I have to say this, because either way Republicans and Democrats will otherwise think that I just complimented them.

  • Frank

    September 3, 2022 at 8:51 pm

    Wow, my comment about Crist losing by more than Mondale did was never posted. Let me see if I say that Trump is actually a carrot with ears makes it, if not, then my spconspiracy theory stands; if so, then you crooked Republicans are being out-politicized by a bunch of complete idiots and you should be ashamed.

  • Frank

    September 3, 2022 at 8:58 pm

    Apparently, I can only make one postable comment. OK, here it is: both Democrats AND Republicans are corrupt to the core. We need a third party to rise up, but the only thing that Dems and Reps can agree on is that this would be VERY bad for both of them.

Comments are closed.


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