Poll: Ron DeSantis underwater in Florida
TALLAHASSEE, FLA. 5/5/23-Gov. Ron DeSantis during a news conference after the 2023 legislative session concluded, Friday at the Capitol in Tallahassee. COLIN HACKLEY PHOTO

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Yet another survey shows the magic of the 2022 General Election has faded for the Governor.

New Florida polling shows Ron DeSantis out of favor with voters in the state, a stunning shift in the year since his successful re-election.

The Cygnal poll of 800 likely General Election voters, reported first by Florida Politics, reveals the Florida Governor is at 50% disapproval against 47% approval.

Though 85% of Republican registrants and 87% of those who voted for Donald Trump in the 2020 presidential election still regard the Governor favorably in the poll conducted Nov. 11 — 13, other sub-groups have soured on DeSantis early in his second term.

He does worst among two demographics of women. Among those 55 or older, he has 58% disapproval. And among women who have attended college, he has a 61% unfavorable rating.

Regionally, he’s underwater in Orlando, Tampa, and South Florida, though those showings are ameliorated by 54% approval in North Florida.

The poll shows DeSantis, who tells people on the presidential campaign trail he’s best positioned to win a General Election against Joe Biden, has lost independent voters, with 58% of that cohort viewing DeSantis negatively.

He’s also failing to appeal to urban or suburban voters, with 58% disapproval among the former and 55% among the latter group. Among voters in small towns, however, he does enjoy a 56% approval rating.

Unfortunately for DeSantis, the Cygnal poll doesn’t appear to be an outlier.

A survey released this month by Florida Atlantic University didn’t go so far as showing DeSantis underwater, but it did show him barely afloat, with 50% approval against 49% disapproval.

A.G. Gancarski

A.G. Gancarski has been the Northeast Florida correspondent for Florida Politics since 2014. He writes for the New York Post and National Review also, with previous work in the American Conservative and Washington Times and a 15+ year run as a columnist in Folio Weekly. He can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter: @AGGancarski


34 comments

  • Biscuit

    November 20, 2023 at 2:53 pm

    Newsgrunt out of Florida: Poll shows that most Republicans here think Ron DeSantis is doing a wonderful job, and would enjoy nothing more than having him over for Thanksgiving dinner and listening to his keen, insightful, witty banter. That, or get a colonoscopy while fully conscious. It’s a toss-up.
    Strange people. Very anal.
    Arf.

    • Earl Pitts "The Big Voice On The Right" American

      November 20, 2023 at 4:37 pm

      Good afternoon Patriots
      Relax your sphincter’s,
      The Cygnal and FAU polling operations are both 💩 4 🧠’ leftist controlled and as such totally meaningless.
      Again, relax your sphincter’s, my Patriots we got this.
      EPA

    • Dont Say FLA

      November 27, 2023 at 1:45 pm

      Florida’s Republicans want Rhonda Dee Santis presidential campaign to fail . At that, Rhonda is indeed doing a wonderful job. Failing and flailing.

  • Go Woke OR Go Broke!

    November 20, 2023 at 3:50 pm

    Nobody cares about “WOKE” except the drooling knuckle-draggers among us. People care about being able to afford their lives, keep a roof over their head, and actually be able to buy insurance for their homes.
    DeSantis has been a miserable failure on everything that actually matters to most people while going “All-In” on garbage that nobody cares about.

    • Dylan W

      November 21, 2023 at 9:33 am

      You sound like a Chris Cristie supporter. LOL Woke has been the foundation of the Republican party for decades. They used to say it was being politically correct. Now they call it woke because it’s got an ethinic flair to it that is a dog whistle to their ‘proud to be white’ followers.

    • VoteBlu

      November 21, 2023 at 6:31 pm

      With Right Wingers, every accusation is a confession.

  • My Take

    November 20, 2023 at 6:06 pm

    Even bowl-floater Fine hates him now.

  • Pam

    November 21, 2023 at 6:08 am

    He is a horrible Governor. He has done nothing for this state except come up with these idiotic pieces of legislation that he and his wife cooked up for the shock factor and his political aspirations. I certainly didn’t vote for him ever. He is destroying this state with his do nothing plans to fix anything here a typical Republican all they can do is complain about everything.. A true dissappointment. The personality of a slug!

    • Ocean Joe

      November 21, 2023 at 6:26 am

      Pam, you are not being fair to the slugs.

    • My Take

      November 25, 2023 at 2:25 am

      Slugs would pour salt on him.

  • Sonja Fitch

    November 21, 2023 at 6:35 am

    Wonderful! Desantis ain’t fooling anyone he ain’t notin but a liar and fascist! Desantis must go! Next is that pervert Gaetz! What a loser. Must go!

    • Earl Pitts "Religious Scholar Emeritus" American

      November 21, 2023 at 7:36 am

      Good Morn ‘ting Sonja,
      It would behoove you to practice mentally getting used to our reality-based future. Luckily for you and any other DeSantis deniers out there you have me, Earl Pitts American, to help you all in the mental preparation of a reality-based future.
      I totally understand how fun it has been for you and all the leftists in Our Great Nation to be the cute counter-culture bra-burners of the ’60’s having grown old now to be the abortion marchers and Israeli haters of today (and yes I know you are an American Jewish Democrat).
      So girl, you and others like you are carrying a lot of baggage, what with being responsible [by your vote] for your Democratic Leadership’s part in enabling Iran to fund the HAMAS slaughter of the Israeli Jews in the Kibbutz which your Democratic support over the years enabled by the appeasement of Iran.
      Anyway I, Earl Pitts American, have been working with our Lord And Savior, The Son of God, on the way, the truth, and the light to bring you and the many “Lost Sheep” like you back into the fold of Salvation and the good grace’s of our Lord.
      So keep the faith girl; in Christ there is forgiveness and Redemption; even as that thief on the cross with The Son of God joined our Lord on that fateful day in Paradise.
      Thank you my dear, while your leftist friends care nothing about saving your soul from the 🔥 of eternal damnation, Earl cares,
      Earl Pitts American

      • Ned Beatty

        November 21, 2023 at 9:04 am

        Do you want some dressing with your word salad?

        • Earl Pitts "Religious Scholar Emeritus" American

          November 21, 2023 at 9:22 am

          Thank you Ned for your desperate cry for help which I, Earl Pitts American, am “Locked And Loaded With The Full Armor of The Lord God Almighty in Heaven Above” 100% qualified to serve you with.
          Ned, I’ve had so many “Lost Sheep” like you reaching out by “Blowing My Phone Up” the best I, Earl Pitts American, can do to assist your mournful cry for help, Ned, is to refer you to the instructions for Redemption provided to Dr. BOB (below).
          And Ned in all the places where I addressed “Dr. Bob” just mentally remove his name and mentally insert your own name “Ned Beatty”.
          EPA
          *the Earl Pitts Political Science/Redemption Division recommends you take the “Before Midnight Tonight” special offer to cover all the bases of your prior life of sin and debauchery.*

        • Michael K

          November 21, 2023 at 1:03 pm

          Perfect!

  • Florida's Dr. Bob

    November 21, 2023 at 7:57 am

    The thief on the cross? A bit hard to conjure that image: DJT in tattered underwear on the cross with blubber hanging everywhere.

    • Earl Pitts "Religious Scholar Emeritus" American

      November 21, 2023 at 8:51 am

      Thanks Dr. Bob for reaching out for help,
      Rejoice in the fact you too are eligible for the sweet Redemption being offered to Sonja.
      A couple of Doctor specific concerns:
      1.) Redemption IS offered for your genital mutation of children. (Be sure to get Redemption before midnight tonight to take advantage of this fabulous early Redemption offer).
      2.) Doctors receive even more suffering in the “eternal bad place” due to having relieved human pain and suffering (which the 👿 does not approve of) while the Doctor was still alive here on Earth.
      So to sum it up: Dr. Bob it is of vital importance that you “Turn before you 🔥 burn.
      Again thanks for reaching out, Dr. Bob as you know “A Soul Is A Terrible Thing To Waste”
      EPA

  • John L

    November 21, 2023 at 11:07 am

    People in Florida think that our state has been an afterthought for the past year and Governor Pudding Fingers has ignored our state problems like property and flood insurance crisis and crazy high rents and inflation while whisking away to every county in Iowa on his flailing campaign.

    • Earl Pitts "Sage Religious/Political Scholar Emeritus" American

      November 21, 2023 at 11:34 am

      Sorry John L, but due to your disrespect shown to our next POTUS Ron DeSantis you are being placed under a 24 hour “CHASTIZMENT” by me, Earl Pitts American,
      I suggest you go home, pull the shades, don’t answer the phone, or let any of your disrespectful trifialling friends in the house for the next 24 hours.
      EPA

  • John L

    November 21, 2023 at 11:09 am

    Comparing DUH Santis personality toa slug is degrading for the slug. He is mean and condescending and unlikable. Wont even win Florida primary for god sake.

    • Earl Pitts "Sage Religious/Political Scholar Emeritus" American

      November 21, 2023 at 7:08 pm

      Double Chastizement: 48 hours in your basement.
      EPA

  • Ric

    November 21, 2023 at 11:13 am

    Do you really feel the need to call yourself ” “Religious Scholar Emeritus” American? Seriously? How do you think it makes you look?

    • MH/Duuuval

      November 21, 2023 at 2:28 pm

      Arm Pit is a legend in his own mind — nuff said.

    • Earl Pitts "Sage Religious/Political Scholar Emeritus" American

      November 21, 2023 at 7:09 pm

      CHASTIZED

  • Pastor Pasta

    November 21, 2023 at 5:37 pm

    WTF are those 47% who approve huffing?

  • My Take

    November 25, 2023 at 3:55 am

    DeSSgustus’s supporters may be dumber and more disgusting than he is. He may just be using his positions. They probably believe in and support them.

  • Dont Say FLA

    November 27, 2023 at 12:56 pm

    Rhonda and Tacky O need to reboot their campaign from being WalMart centered. Their most like path forward is to focus on the DeSantis Level Discerning Dollar General shoppers and employees.

Comments are closed.


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