Florida Voters Give Governor DeSantis Mixed Grades, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Nearly 6 In 10 Don't Want DeSantis To Run For President In 2024
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With Florida currently struggling with one of the highest rates of COVID-19 in the country, slightly more than half of voters (51 percent) disapprove of Governor Ron DeSantis' handling of the response to the coronavirus, while 46 percent approve, according to a Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pea-ack) University poll of registered voters in Florida released today. However, this is an improvement from July 2020, when 57 percent of voters disapproved and 38 percent approved.
In today's poll, Republicans approve 85 - 9 percent of the way DeSantis is handling the response to the coronavirus, while Democrats disapprove 93 - 6 percent and independents disapprove 55 - 43 percent.
When it comes to the way DeSantis is handling the public schools, voters give DeSantis a negative 44 - 51 percent approval rating.
On DeSantis' overall job performance, voters are divided with 47 percent approving and 45 percent disapproving of the way he's handling his job as governor. In July 2020, they gave him a negative 41 - 52 percent job approval rating.
"Amid a frightening surge in cases, DeSantis weathers withering criticism from critics on his handling of COVID-19. His numbers have actually improved from a year ago. But he's still not as popular as he was before the pandemic," said Quinnipiac University Polling Analyst Tim Malloy.
APPROVALS
Voters in Florida give President Joe Biden a negative 40 - 53 percent job approval rating. On his handling of the response to the coronavirus, they give Biden a mixed grade, with 47 percent approving and 49 percent disapproving.
Florida voters give Senator Rick Scott a mixed job approval rating, as 42 percent approve, 40 percent disapprove, and 18 percent did not offer an opinion.
Senator Marco Rubio receives a positive approval rating, as 49 percent approve, 38 percent disapprove, and 13 percent did not offer an opinion.
"Florida's voters approve less of the president's overall job performance than they do of his handling of the pandemic. On the other hand, Rubio gets decent numbers from voters heading into 2022, but is just shy of the more comfortable 50% mark," added Malloy.
POLITICAL FUTURES
Governor Ron DeSantis and Senator Marco Rubio are up for reelection in 2022.
Voters are split on whether Ron DeSantis deserves to be reelected, as 48 percent say he does and 45 percent say he does not, with 6 percent not offering an opinion. Republicans say 87 - 8 percent that DeSantis deserves to be reelected, while Democrats say 90 - 4 percent that he does not deserve to be reelected. Forty-nine percent of independents say that he deserves to be reelected, while 43 percent say he does not.
When it comes to Marco Rubio, voters say 47 - 41 percent that he deserves to be reelected, with 13 percent not offering an opinion. Republicans say 77 - 13 percent that Rubio deserves to be reelected, while Democrats say 74 - 15 percent he does not deserve to be reelected. Forty-six percent of independents say that he deserves to be reelected, while 40 percent say he does not.
Voters say 59 - 35 percent that they would not like to see Ron DeSantis run for president in 2024. Republicans say 67 - 24 percent that they would like to see DeSantis run for president, while Democrats say 96 - 2 percent and independents say 61 - 35 percent that they would not like to see him run for president.
"Do Florida voters want to send DeSantis back to Tallahassee? It's a tossup. But 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue is, for now, just not in the cards," added Malloy.
SATISFACTION
A majority of voters (57 percent) say they are either very satisfied (30 percent) or somewhat satisfied (27 percent) with the way things are going in Florida today. Forty-one percent say they are either somewhat dissatisfied (15 percent) or very dissatisfied (26 percent).
This compares to March 2019, when satisfaction levels hit an all-time high with 67 percent either very or somewhat satisfied and 30 percent somewhat dissatisfied or very dissatisfied.
CLIMATE CHANGE
Voters say 51 - 44 percent that they think climate change is going to have a significant negative effect on Florida in their lifetimes. In March 2019, voters were split on the issue, with 45 percent saying climate change would have a significant negative effect and 48 percent saying it would not.
A majority of voters (55 percent) say Governor DeSantis needs to do more to address rising sea levels, while 30 percent say he is doing enough, and 15 percent did not offer an opinion.
Over half of voters (52 percent) also say Governor DeSantis needs to do more to protect the Everglades, while 35 percent say he is doing enough, and 13 percent did not offer an opinion.
889 self-identified registered voters in Florida were surveyed from August 17th - 21st with a margin of error of +/- 3.3 percentage points.
The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Doug Schwartz, Ph.D. since 1994, conducts independent, non-partisan national and state polls on politics and issues. Surveys adhere to industry best practices and are based on random samples of adults using random digit dialing with live interviewers calling landlines and cell phones.
Visit poll.qu.edu or www.facebook.com/quinnipiacpoll
Email poll@qu.edu, or follow us on Twitter @QuinnipiacPoll.
Poll Questions
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Question 1. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Ron DeSantis is handling his job as governor?
REGISTERED VOTERS.......................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Approve 47% 87% 2% 47% 53% 42% 50% 63% Disapprove 45 8 92 43 38 52 48 31 DK/NA 7 5 5 10 9 6 3 5 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Approve 40% 50% 47% 48% 65% 53% 58% 13% 40% Disapprove 45 47 49 45 30 43 37 80 45 DK/NA 15 3 4 7 5 4 4 6 15 -
Question 2. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Rick Scott is handling his job as United States Senator?
REGISTERED VOTERS.......................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Approve 42% 74% 16% 34% 45% 39% 38% 55% Disapprove 40 12 68 42 38 42 49 27 DK/NA 18 14 16 24 17 19 13 18 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Approve 31% 38% 40% 51% 55% 45% 49% 31% 32% Disapprove 35 47 46 36 31 38 35 57 43 DK/NA 34 16 14 13 14 17 16 13 26 -
Question 3. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Marco Rubio is handling his job as United States Senator?
REGISTERED VOTERS.......................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Approve 49% 82% 20% 45% 56% 43% 45% 61% Disapprove 38 10 71 37 33 44 46 26 DK/NA 13 8 9 18 12 14 9 13 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Approve 50% 43% 44% 55% 59% 52% 55% 27% 50% Disapprove 33 42 43 37 30 36 33 65 36 DK/NA 17 15 12 8 11 12 12 9 15 -
Question 4. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Joe Biden is handling his job as president?
REGISTERED VOTERS.......................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Approve 40% 6% 87% 36% 36% 45% 45% 24% Disapprove 53 91 5 56 57 50 51 71 DK/NA 7 2 8 8 8 6 4 4 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Approve 34% 41% 46% 43% 26% 36% 31% 80% 39% Disapprove 50 52 52 53 68 61 64 17 48 DK/NA 16 7 2 4 6 3 4 3 13 -
Question 5. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Ron DeSantis is handling - the response to the coronavirus?
REGISTERED VOTERS.......................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Approve 46% 85% 6% 43% 51% 41% 46% 62% Disapprove 51 9 93 55 46 55 53 34 DK/NA 3 6 1 2 4 3 2 5 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Approve 39% 48% 44% 49% 62% 51% 56% 15% 39% Disapprove 57 52 53 47 34 45 40 85 55 DK/NA 5 1 3 4 4 3 3 - 5 -
Question 6. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Ron DeSantis is handling - the public schools?
REGISTERED VOTERS.......................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Approve 44% 80% 4% 43% 49% 39% 45% 58% Disapprove 51 12 91 53 44 57 52 35 DK/NA 5 8 4 4 6 5 3 7 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Approve 41% 45% 40% 46% 58% 50% 54% 18% 37% Disapprove 48 54 56 48 35 45 41 82 55 DK/NA 11 2 4 5 8 4 6 - 8 -
Question 7. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Joe Biden is handling the response to the coronavirus?
REGISTERED VOTERS.......................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Approve 47% 14% 84% 48% 44% 49% 52% 36% Disapprove 49 81 13 48 52 46 43 60 DK/NA 4 5 4 4 4 5 5 4 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Approve 39% 45% 54% 50% 39% 43% 41% 67% 47% Disapprove 56 48 42 48 57 52 54 28 49 DK/NA 6 8 4 2 4 5 5 5 4 AREA............................ North/ DENSITY............ PnHnd Bay Cntrl Sthw SthE City Suburb Rural Approve 43% 45% 43% 43% 56% 54% 48% 30% Disapprove 49 53 54 55 38 40 50 65 DK/NA 7 1 3 2 6 6 2 4 -
Question 8. Do you feel that Ron DeSantis deserves to be reelected, or do you feel that he does not deserve to be reelected?
REGISTERED VOTERS.......................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Yes/Deserves 48% 87% 4% 49% 53% 44% 49% 65% No/Does not 45 8 90 43 39 51 49 28 DK/NA 6 5 5 8 8 5 2 7 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Yes/Deserves 43% 50% 44% 51% 64% 55% 59% 15% 41% No/Does not 45 49 49 43 30 40 35 85 46 DK/NA 12 2 6 6 6 5 5 1 13 -
Question 9. Do you feel that Marco Rubio deserves to be reelected, or do you feel that he does not deserve to be reelected?
REGISTERED VOTERS.......................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Yes/Deserves 47% 77% 15% 46% 52% 41% 46% 57% No/Does not 41 13 74 40 36 45 45 29 DK/NA 13 11 11 15 12 14 8 14 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Yes/Deserves 35% 48% 43% 54% 56% 51% 53% 25% 43% No/Does not 40 40 47 39 32 37 35 67 40 DK/NA 24 12 10 7 11 12 12 7 17 -
Question 10. Would you like to see Ron DeSantis run for president in 2024, or not?
REGISTERED VOTERS.......................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Yes 35% 67% 2% 35% 39% 32% 38% 47% No 59 24 96 61 55 63 56 46 DK/NA 6 9 2 4 6 5 6 7 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Yes 32% 37% 37% 30% 46% 42% 44% 12% 27% No 64 60 59 61 47 51 49 88 67 DK/NA 4 3 4 9 7 7 7 - 6 -
Question 11. In general, how satisfied are you with the way things are going in Florida today; are you very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied?
REGISTERED VOTERS.......................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Very satisfied 30% 60% 1% 27% 36% 25% 31% 40% Smwht satisfied 27 32 14 33 28 26 20 33 Smwht dissatisfied 15 3 25 20 14 16 16 10 Very dissatisfied 26 3 59 19 20 31 31 15 DK/NA 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Very satisfied 26% 30% 35% 32% 40% 33% 36% 9% 27% Smwht satisfied 30 27 23 25 31 28 29 18 30 Smwht dissatisfied 21 17 11 17 14 11 12 23 21 Very dissatisfied 23 25 31 25 14 26 21 49 22 DK/NA 1 1 - 2 1 2 2 - - -
Question 12. Do you think that climate change is going to have a significant negative effect on Florida in your lifetime, or don't you think that?
REGISTERED VOTERS.......................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Yes/Negative effect 51% 17% 83% 56% 49% 53% 54% 36% No 44 75 11 41 47 41 44 58 DK/NA 5 8 6 2 4 6 2 6 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Yes/Negative effect 70% 53% 47% 40% 38% 47% 43% 65% 62% No 24 46 48 50 58 48 52 25 34 DK/NA 6 1 5 10 4 6 5 10 4 -
Question 13. Do you think Governor DeSantis is doing enough to address rising sea levels, doing too much, or do you think he needs to do more to address rising sea levels?
REGISTERED VOTERS.......................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Doing enough 30% 57% 3% 26% 33% 27% 33% 42% Doing too much - - - 1 - - 1 - Needs to do more 55 21 92 60 52 58 52 38 DK/NA 15 23 5 14 15 14 14 20 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Doing enough 20% 30% 34% 32% 40% 37% 39% 9% 21% Doing too much - - 1 1 1 1 1 - - Needs to do more 68 57 52 49 40 47 43 86 67 DK/NA 12 12 13 18 19 16 17 5 12 -
Question 14. Do you think Governor DeSantis is doing enough to protect the Everglades, doing too much, or do you think he needs to do more to protect the Everglades?
REGISTERED VOTERS.......................................... WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Doing enough 35% 64% 6% 31% 39% 31% 41% 44% Doing too much - - - - - - - - Needs to do more 52 23 83 55 50 53 47 40 DK/NA 13 13 11 13 11 16 12 16 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Doing enough 24% 38% 34% 39% 45% 40% 42% 9% 32% Doing too much - - - - - - - - - Needs to do more 60 52 51 48 43 43 43 83 58 DK/NA 16 9 15 13 11 17 14 8 10