Jacob Ogles
While Florida voters lean distinctly Republican, they like U.S. Sen. Rick Scott less than other GOP leaders in the state.
Polling from Cygnal indicates a level of discontent with most statewide leaders, with even Gov. Ron DeSantis underwater in approval ratings. But Scott, who faces re-election next year and served two terms as Governor, remains less popular than DeSantis, fellow U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio or former President Donald Trump. But he is in a better position with voters than the nation’s most prominent Democrat, President Joe Biden.
The only statewide elected official included in the poll with positive approval ratings was Lt. Gov. Jeanette Núñez, though that appears largely because of her low name ID. About 47% of voters had never heard of Núñez, and another 26% had no opinion about her performance either way.
By contrast, most do know Scott, but aren’t happy with the job he’s doing. Only about 35% of voters have a positive opinion of Scott, and less than 17% had a very favorable opinion. That’s lower than any statewide official sans Núñez, and even lower than the 36% with a favorable opinion of Biden.
But Biden is a more polarizing figure. More than 60% of voters have a negative view of the President, putting him more than 24 percentage points underwater.
Still, almost 52% have an unfavorable view of Scott, with more than 36% having a very unfavorable view. About 14% of voters are neutral about Scott or have never heard of him. In the end, he sits more than 16 percentage points underwater, better than Biden but worse than Trump, who remains under by about 10 points.
If there’s a bright side, Scott isn’t nearly as polarizing a figure as Biden, Trump or even DeSantis, all of whom have far more voter viewing them in a very unfavorable light than Florida’s junior Senator.
And despite general discontent with individual personalities, Republicans perform better than Democrats on a generic congressional ballot test by about 6 percentage points. That likely means a lift for Scott at the ballot box if voters simply vote party line.
The poll did not survey opinions on any Democratic candidates challenging Scott next year.
7 comments
TJC
November 20, 2023 at 5:24 pm
What’s not to like about Rick Scott? He’s handsome, intelligent, kind-hearted, and caring. A real ladies’ man, and a real man’s man. He loves dogs, and he once saved four kittens from a fire by climbing four stories up the side of the building with his bare hands and climbing back down with two of the kittens in his front pockets, one under his shirt, and one clenched in his teeth by the nape of its neck.
I was there, and I was part of the crowd that lifted him up on our shoulders and carried him home. What a night that was.
Bartender, another triple vodka, please.
Bill Pollard
November 20, 2023 at 6:32 pm
🤣🤣🤣
Bob Busch
November 20, 2023 at 5:50 pm
Rick Scott is about to lose the primary election to Keith Gross.
No one I know likes Rick.
We need an outsider. Scott was okay in 2010 and has gone steadily downhill since. Time for change.
Sonja Fitch
November 21, 2023 at 6:39 am
Damn killer! As Columbia ceo , Rick Scott took all Broward County employees off of their medical recommendations. Broward local union leader DIED because of being taken off cancer regime! Go to hell Rick Scott!
PeterH
November 21, 2023 at 1:01 pm
News Alert!
The head of right wing grifter group MOM’S FOR LIBERTY is a convicted sex offender who admitted guilt to raping a 14 year old boy! Ron DeSantis and his wife must be proud that they followed this organization’s advice and burned library books in this unvetted firm’s direction!
https://apple.news/ActK6CZfRRWG9C0whxjUcoQ
Josh Green
November 27, 2023 at 9:35 pm
Well yeah. Every time Harry Potter destroys one of his horcruxes he gets weaker.
Who killed Peter Antonacci?
November 28, 2023 at 1:58 pm
Rick Scott was a terrible governor, but even he didn’t cover up a death in his own office.
Comments are closed.