A.G. Gancarski
More polling suggests that Florida politicians with potential presidential aspirations in three years have an uphill climb.
The May survey from McLaughlin finds Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Gov. Ron DeSantis tied at 5%, in a very distant third place behind Vice President JD Vance (34%) and Donald Trump Jr. (15%).
DeSantis continues to fall off in McLaughlin surveys. In December 2024, he was at 9%, meaning he’s lost almost half of his support, suggesting his run against the Donald Trump machine in 2023 and early 2024 didn’t lead to enduring political capital.
Meanwhile, Rubio is making some gains, and 5% is the best performance he’s had in McLaughlin’s monthly poll.
It could be worse for Rubio and DeSantis though.
U.S. Sen. Rick Scott is at 1% in the same poll. The Naples Republican has been at that level or lower every month since Trump’s election.
None of these potential candidates have caught fire in any poll.
A recent JL Partners survey found DeSantis at 8% and Rubio at 6%. Scott is rarely considered as an option, meanwhile.
While it’s still early, these numbers aren’t necessarily encouraging for the political operatives who hope to ensure that after Trump’s term, another well-known Florida Republican gets to move into the White House.
6 comments
Foghorn Leghorn
May 29, 2025 at 5:48 pm
Don’t know why you continue to write about these polls. We are barely into this current administration yet you seem fixated with these stupid polls so early before the 2028 election cycle.
Cowbell Carl
May 30, 2025 at 7:32 am
Maybe they enjoy humiliating our “wildy popular” governor.
Larry Gillis, Director-at-Large, Libertarian Party of Florida
May 29, 2025 at 7:01 pm
POLICY, NOT PERSONALITIES, PLEASE.
It is an interesting horse race you are handicapping here.
Why do the media insist on focusing on the PERSONALITIES that are “in play”? They should focus on the POLICIES. The policies are what we get stuck with, once everything is said and done. Reading the typical article, the average reader (including me) comes away with utterly no comprehension of what these people (or any other group) are gonna do with our tax money and how much of it they’re gonna spend.
Vote Libertarian. (Ask US about policy, and you won’t be able to shut us up).
Tom
May 30, 2025 at 7:51 am
I’d be happy with policy over personality but as a country, we seem way deep into the weeds with the identity politics. The fact that the whole divide and conquer strategy is actively encouraged to the point where people just stick with their tribe regardless of whether or not it’s in their best interest makes it hard to pull back from.
Maybe you guy’s can shake things up a bit. I’m in Cape Coral so I’d be happy to sit in and listen when you’re ramping up for the mid terms.
Ocean Joe
May 29, 2025 at 7:28 pm
Who are the ghouls (1%) that support Rick Scott for president?
PeterH
May 30, 2025 at 8:23 am
Can we at least get through Halloween 2025 before we venture into the 2027 Republican Primary Clown Show?